Ella McCay

The narrative is built around a feminist struggle, focusing on a young woman who must navigate a political system dominated by unsupportive people. The plot heavily focuses on her personal empowerment while dealing with male resentment and family trauma, though it stops short of pushing intersectional identity theories.

The movie critiques traditional family and marital structures by portraying the main male figures as highly toxic or corrupt. Ella’s father is a cheating, neglectful parent, and her husband is a power-hungry betrayer who frames her out of jealousy. Traditional relationships and male authority are heavily criticized, while the state and its liberal programs are framed as the ultimate good.

Some right-leaning viewers and online commentators criticized the film for its "woke" feminist tropes and negative portrayal of men. However, because the film was a massive box office bomb, public engagement was very low, and the backlash remained minor compared to general audience indifference.

The creative team has a strong, noticeable history of supporting progressive causes. Writer-director James L. Brooks is a major liberal political donor, and producer Julie Ansell is a vocal LGBTQ+ advocate. Other producers also fund left-leaning immigration, art, and civil rights projects.