I am a big Charlize Theron fan so I settled in for a few hours watching her work. Written by the wonderful Diablo Cody and directed by Jason Reitman, “Tully” gives us a ringside seat to the trials and tribulations of motherhood the third time around at age 40. I found myself squirming in my seat as Marlo (Theron) struggles through the twenty four hour grind of feeding her newborn, pumping incessantly, dealing with her six year old son’s behavior issues at school and at home, all the while trying to maintain some semblance of a family unit. Her body has literally given out and she is emotionally spent.
There doesn’t appear to be a solution to her woes but her somewhat obnoxious and successful brother offers up a “night nanny” as his gift to her. She and her husband reluctantly agree and along comes “Tully” played beautifully by Mackenzie Davis. The chemistry between Theron and Davis is palpable and they deliver this story in a touching and raw way.
Cody and Reitman have teamed up before in “Juno” and “ Young Adult”, which also starred Theron.
They are clearly a great team and bring poignant real life stories powerfully to the screen.
I left the theater wondering how things might have turned out had Tully never provided her touch, her wisdom beyond her years, and her love to this family. The words of the flight attendant ring clearly, “Please place your own face mask on first before securing your child’s mask”. While seeming to be selfish to some, it is so important for the caregiver, in this case the mother, to take good care of herself so that she can best care for others. “Tully” brings those wise words into perfect focus.
If you’re looking for some top notch acting amidst the backdrop of perhaps a very relatable story “Tully” is worth your time. Here’s hoping Reitman and Cody stay in close touch and bring us a few more gems down the road.
