Tully

2018’s Tully, directed by Jason Reitman.

Starring Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Ron Livingston, Mark Duplass, Asher Miles Fallica, Lia Frankland, Gameela Wright, and Elaine Tan.

What is it about?

Tully is set around a family living in present day New York state. Father, Drew (Ron Livingston), and Mother, Marlo (Charlize Theron), and their 2 children. Marlo is pregnant with their 3^rd child, and even before the birth, is not happy with her life. After the baby comes, in a state of exhaustion, Marlo takes her brother Craig (Mark Duplass)’s advice to employ a night nannie named Tully, who takes care of the baby while Marlo sleeps at night. Tully (Mackenzie Davis) is a genuine firecracker, who has a real passion for child minding, and her authentic presence galvanizes Marlo into some profound realizations.

Why is it worth seeing?

Director Jason Reitman has a somewhat uneven filmography, lending itself a new mystery for potential viewers each time he comes out with a new film based around homey Americana scenes with acoustic folk in the background: is it good Jason, or bad Jason? Fortunately, Tully falls more into the former category than the latter. With the help of screenwriter Diablo Cody, Reitman creates something that is closer in spirit to late 90’s David Fincher, than Juno. The how is the fascinating part, but along the way some crucial aspects of mental health, particularly of the post partum variety, are missed.

First hand experiencers and mental health professionals will likely take issue with the way that Tully treats the subject of mental health, with its resulting causes perhaps more embellished and dramatic than is the standard- but it’s debatable if it is productive to fault the movie for embellishing/obscuring them for dramatic sakes. Less forgivable, is the gloss applied for recommendations, once the mental health diagnosis is confirmed. It’s practically a moral victory for that segment of the population that believes rats in B.F. Skinner’s mazes would be happier if they would just choose to stop being electrocuted- a fix that could be made by adding a little more run time to work through the complications of said subject matter. Also at times grating- Writer Cody’s penchant for trying so hard to write quirkily. How else to explain a character exclaiming, “I’m like Saudi Arabia, I have an energy surplus”.

As in Young Adult, Charlize Theron returns as the screen dominant protagonist, who’s character has complexities and quirks that make it difficult to fit in with the rest of society, with its mothers who bake for the school class and have the time and energy to wear make up. While not as acerbic (and immature!) as her Adult character, Theron’s Marlo is a real person with bite, and Theron’s willingness to work through acting and looking like a Monster at times is refreshing for such a Hollywood gal. She ably holds the whole exercise together.


While not a textbook explanation of mental health challenges/solutions, and at times trying too hard to be hipper than cool, Tully’s charms are its sense of person in Theron’s character, some of the year’s best scenes of dreamy water scenarios, and a realization that is too indulgent to spoil. We all are our best selves, even if it takes that special someone to realize it.

Rating:

3.5/5

Trailer: Click Here.