REVIEW: Hollywood Times "Yale” is a tender and humanizing story"
By Juan Markos
June 15, 2026
Los Angeles, CA, (The Hollywood Times) 06/14/2026
“Yale” is a new dramedy based on the true story of writer Van Billet’s maternal grandfather, Yale Parker. The film is directed by Jay Silverman and stars Caitlen McGee as Mackenzie Mitchell, Dominic Leeder as Josh Mitchell (Mackenzie’s ex-husband), Rachel Harris as her manager, Susan Lewis, and Kevin Dunn as the infamous Yale Parker.
The film is complex, compelling, and funny. Mackenzie is a multifaceted character; she’s a successful author, mother, and ex-wife, but she struggles with her own demons. Perhaps she drinks too much or lacks boundaries; she is a troubled yet strong woman, beautifully portrayed by Caitlen McGee. Although she has found success, Mackenzie is faced with the need to take responsibility for the first time as she seeks a kidney for her son, Ryan. This journey forces her to confront and reconnect with her estranged father, Yale Parker.
The movie opens with a flashback to Mackenzie’s 9th birthday. Her mother urges her to make a wish, anxiously waiting for her father’s arrival. When the phone rings, her mother bursts into tears, bringing us back to reality: she is hungover and in a cab, rushing to take her son to school. We soon meet her ex-husband and his new wife, who have custody of her son. It quickly becomes clear why she does not have custody; she is irresponsible. Instead of taking Ryan to school, she tells him they are going to a Phillies game. She buys him a jersey, and they play hooky, ultimately taking him to her book signing.
Amid her chaotic schedule, Mackenzie has an altercation with a creepy fan, resulting in her arrest. When Ryan faints and ends up hospitalized, her manager posts bail for her. Rushing to the hospital, Mackenzie learns that her son needs a kidney. Desperate, she decides to track down her father and ask him for help.
She locates him in Newark, where he owns a strip club. Although he is facing pressure from a mobster loan shark, he is willing to donate his kidney in exchange for $25,000. Mackenzie agrees and takes him with her.
The film is filled with twists and turns as Mackenzie builds a relationship with her estranged father, pushing her to make life-changing decisions for herself, not just for her son. “Yale” is a tender and humanizing story. Director Jay Silverman showcases cinematic artistry, while Kevin Dunn and Caitlin McGee deliver impactful performances that bring these complex characters to life. I am astonished by this film.
Yale premieres on the opening night of the 29th Annual Dances with Films Film Festival on June 18th at 7:30 PM at The Chinese Theater in Hollywood.
For more information or tickets, please visit https://danceswithfilms.com/2026-yale/