I think that I first found John Early while watching the series Search Party which aired from 2016-2022.  In it he played Elliott Goss, a self absorbed, ruthless, deplorable human being.  You might think I’m exaggerating but his character lied about having childhood cancer, and that was only one of the horrible things he did.  But, the fact that someone so detestable was still watchable was because of Early’s considerable comedic talents which have led to the prolific actor’s numerable credits.  However, with Maddie’s Secret he not only stars, but is on triple duty as writer and director for his feature debut. No small feat, but it somehow works.

Maddie Ralph (Early) is a dishwasher at Gourmaybe, a food centred content creator.  Yet, she seems to be destined for more.  While she doesn’t really want the on-camera job of chef Emily (Claudia O’Doherty) she’s just as talented.  On her morning run she gains inspiration from the Los Angeles sun, the wind in her hair, randomly placed food advertisements, the smell of a jasmine bush.  When it comes right down to it though, she prefers to cook at home rather than having the ambition to perform on camera.

Maddie’s best friend, Deena (Kate Berlant) and husband Jake (Eric Rahill) endlessly remind Maddie that she’s ‘perfect’ and ‘ravishing’ and talented as well as just a good person. She, though, remains somewhat shy and humble.  But, when Jake posts a video of her cooking at home, it goes viral overnight gaining her an immediate on-camera promotion at Gourmaybe.

With influencer fame comes social media at its worst.  The comments both online and in the studio about her appearance cannot be ignored.  The fact that her toxic mother (Kristen Johnston at her sadistic best) doubles down on these comments only makes things worse.  Maddie starts to spiral as the pressure mounts, and it reawakens her struggle with bulimia.

Cr. Magnolia Pictures © 2025

Early’s film is fashioned as an homage to the ‘movie-of-the-week’ from the 80’s and 90’s.  While set in present day, the colour palette and score (from Michael Hesslein) leaves no question as to the era that influenced Early’s vision.  While I was never really into those TV movies, I can think of a couple arcs on Degrassi and 90210 that would fit the mould.  In particular one episode of Saved By the Bell, where Jessie becomes addicted to caffeine pills in her strive for perfection, came to mind as I was watching this film.  Maddie and Jessie face similar pressures, even if they deal with them slightly differently.

Anchoring this strangely comedic film is Early himself who presents as this earnest ingénue, and does it with such genuine honesty that his performance draws you in.  Maddie, often shown with food on her face, making vegetarian cuisine (for ethical reasons of course) even while she’s auditioning to be culinary advisor on “The Boar” – the film’s stand-in for The Bear – is too good to be true.  Early brings her to life in a way that is over-the-top, yet strangely touching.  With a great supporting cast including frequent collaborator Kate Berlant and SNL alum Vanessa Bayer, Maddie’s Secret is certainly never boring.  

There’s a scene that really spoke to me as to how truthful Early’s writing is even in this type of film, where sometimes things are silly but at its core there’s something more.  It comes when a young woman approaches Maddie, clearly a fan.  She says to her how good it is to see someone ‘healthy’ making food content. It’s an innocent comment that strikes Maddie to her core.  When she hears healthy she hears ‘not skinny’.  And it’s such a realistic observation about how body image is so complicated for many women.  In the age of Ozempic, perhaps Maddie’s Secret is even more timely than Early may have known.

It’s a bold move to make your directorial debut a comedy involving eating disorders.  Yet, Early somehow manages to seamlessly blend comedic and melodramatic elements.  His is a film that delivers in laughs, but can dial up the sincerity when required.  It’s a delicate balance that is a testament to his talent behind the camera, as much as his committed performance as the titular character.