Tully

This film tells the story of a struggling mother of three, whose life is tremendously helped by a night nanny.

The depiction of being a completely exhausted mother is really piercing. Charlize Theron makes it so accurate and so haunting. The night nanny is such a godsend, but the story comes with a peculiar twist. I enjoyed the plot, and I am impressed by Charlize Theron's performance as well.

Greetings again from the darkness. Director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody first collaborated on the filming of her debut script JUNO in 2007. Four years later they made YOUNG ADULT with Charlize Theron, and now all three reunite for this latest tip of the cap to motherhood and self-care. Simpatico is the word that comes to mind here with the perfect lineup of writer, director and actress. The biggest question is how to label it. Some will call it a comedy, while others will proclaim it a serious drama. As with much of life, there is a bit of laughter, a touch of drama, and a dash of most every emotion.

Ms. Theron stars as Marlo, mother of three. There is 8/9 year old daughter Sarah (Lia Frankland, 6 year old son Jonah (Asher Miles Fallica) who lands on the autistic spectrum, and now an unplanned newborn that threatens to rock a family already barely getting through each day. Sarah is a lovely sister and daughter, but the typical adolescent insecurities are magnified by her getting lost in the shuffle due to her two more needy siblings. Jonah gets booted from mainstream kindergarten by a principal who labels him "quirky" ... an awkward description people use when they are trying to be polite (even though it's exactly the opposite).

Ron Livingston plays Marlo's husband Drew, a traveling businessman who, though a nice guy and loving father, is clueless to the stresses of running the homestead. Also in the mix is Craig (Mark Duplass), Marlo's brother who is equal parts wealthy and smug. When Craig offers the gift of a night-nanny to Marlo, she is tempted, but her pride gets in the way as she compares herself to the 'cupcake' super moms who always seem to have their act together. Ultimately, the relentless pressure and sleep deprivation, bring the young night-nanny Tully (Mackenzie Davis) into the home. She and Marlo hit it off immediately leading Marlo (and us) to question if Tully is too good to be true.

As Tully entrenches herself, it becomes clear that her value is to Marlo more than the baby. The two ladies become friends, and Marlo confesses her fears and insecurities as Tully acts as a life coach encouraging her through some tough moments. Despite the surreal feel to these interactions, Diablo Cody's dialogue crackles with cynicism and realism. The quips we've come to expect from her writing are delivered by her best developed character to date. There is a depth to Marlo, and her exchanges with Tully take us places a teenage JUNO couldn't possibly.

Charlize Theron proves again that she is truly an elite actress when she commits to a role. Her 50 lb weight game adds the necessary realism, but it's her emotional teetering that is most impressive. She is like a supermodel who also plays rugby - a rare blend of beauty, talent and skill. Mackenzie Davis is a revelation. She holds her own in every scene and it's quite interesting to see her free-spirited modern day Mary Poppins with tats.

If a previous movie has dealt with the challenge and stress of motherhood with this level of depth and realism, it doesn't come to mind. The movie kind of creeps up on you with a message regarding the importance of dealing with lost youth, while also never losing sight of yourself as an individual ... all with incisive humor and pulling no punches on being an overwhelmed mom. Just don't call it quirky.

Tully tells the story of Marlo (Charlize Theron), a New York suburbanite pregnant with her third child. Her husband, Drew (Ron Livingston) is loving, but somewhat neglectful, showing more interest in playing video games than helping Tully maintain the house and family. Clueless about the pressures of motherhood, he fails to notice when Marlo begins to show signs of post-natal depression. However, shortly after the baby's birth, Marlo's wealthy brother, Craig (Mark Duplass) hires a night nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis) to help take some of the pressure off Marlo. Reluctant to embrace the idea at first, Marlo soon forms a tight bond with Tully, who introduces Marlo to a lifestyle she had never imagined.

Tully is one of those films that the less you know about it before seeing it, the better. Featuring committed performances from Theron and Davis, the film is written by Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman, a partnership which also produced Young Adult (2011), in which Theron also starred. There's a definite thematic uniformity between the two films, as if they exist in an almost sliding doors-like relationship to one another. My only real issue with Tully is that the supporting characters are very thinly drawn - Drew, the well-meaning but ineffectual husband, is especially void of substance. Although, to be fair, the nature of the story, to a certain extent, necessitates this. In any case, this is an excellent study of an issue very rarely put on-screen - imperfect motherhood. A word of warning though; neither the poster, nor the trailer do the film any favours whatsoever. It's funny in places, but this is not a comedy.

TULLY is a funny and frustrating look at motherhood through the eyes of a very tired, borderline post-partum depressed mom, played by Charlize Theron. We first meet Theron when she's very pregnant, and already very stressed taking care of the two kids she has already. A nervous daughter who is smart but way too hard on herself, and a son who clearly is "on the spectrum" somewhere, and is becoming a real problem at his private school. A school his parents can't really afford. The baby that's on its way is clearly seen as a mixed blessing at best by Theron and her somewhat absent husband (played by Ron Livingston.)

The baby arrives, and sure enough, it's too much for Theron to handle. Her brother (Mark Duplass), who is doing QUITE well in business, suggests she hire a night nanny (a gift from him)...essentially a person who will take care of your newborn during the night so you can get a good night's sleep yourself. Reluctant at first, but finally buckling to her own crushing exhaustion, Tully enters Theron's life. Mackenzie Davis plays Tully as a nearly perfect answer to Tully's need. She is empathetic. She is patient. She is understanding & funny. And most importantly, she takes care of the baby, cleans the house and even makes snacks for the kids. Theron finally gets some sleep. And with sleep, she re-engages with her household...finally serving something other than frozen pizza for dinner, being attentive to her older kids and just generally being in a better mood.

Much of the film revolves around the amusing night-time conversations between Theron and Tully, and an unusual friendship develops. It is here that the dialogue (from Oscar winner Diablo Cody) really sparkles. We come to feel the relationship between these two women very closely, and invest our attention into looking forward to what happens next, and next, and next. There are amusing surprises in store.

Director Jason Reitman keeps things moving along briskly. This indie-spirit film moves at the clip of a mainstream movie...making it extremely engaging. Theron is really terrific, and throws herself into this unflattering role in a way that makes us sympathize for her greatly even while we're frustrated by some of her actions. Davis is delightful as the free-spirited Tully, and Livingston, in his understated way, makes for a good foil. The actors playing Theron's kids are very sharp as well. This is a movie that really delights the viewer with excellent performances that are sparked by a script with heart and a fair amount of wit.

Why not 5 stars? It's a close call, really. I docked it a half star or so because some of the scenes of chaos in Theron's life are perhaps just a bit too broad and hard to believe. Cody has written them on a very fine line between believable and "too much." That teetering takes some of the film's potential power away. Specifically, scenes between Theron and various leaders at her son's school paint the school officials with a very big "villain" brush, and with no subtlety. And I like Mark Duplass in some things, but his characteristic smugness makes him too one-dimensional in this film.

These gripes aside, TULLY is amusing, sometimes sad and VERY frequently surprising. It takes you down a few predictable roads, which only makes the surprise detours all the more impactful. It's absolutely worth checking out, especially for just about anyone who has had to raise kids.

Tully was a pleasant surprise. This film intentionally has a strange & uncomfortable feeling to it, even when things are going well. The ending will frustrate some people, and it does simplify some complicated issues, but overall I found this movie to be enjoyable. And now my wife wants to hire a night nurse.