From the soundtrack of TULLY…
“Your 20s are great. But then the 30s come around the corner like a garbage truck at 5:00 a.m…….”
That’s pretty well what you’re in for from director Jason Reitman‘s third collaboration with screenwriter Diablo Cody.
Their previous combined works were JUNO and YOUNG ADULT.
And now with TULLY we get a glimpse into the daily routine of a suburban New York housewife with two kids and a third on the way.
She’s played with perfection by Charlize Theron who put on some hefty poundage for the role—and who also co-produced the picture.
Sure her husband (Ron Livingston) is a nice, hardworking guy and decent provider. However there just isn’t much affection left in their daily lives. He now prefers playing video games after his long days at work.
It wasn’t supposed to be like that.
Enter Theron’s wealthy brother who offers his sister a baby break in the form of a night nanny, if you will.
She shows up in the evenings to take care of the newborn overnights while mom gets some much needed sleep.
Well, at first mom resists.
But after a period of all-around kiddie struggles she accepts the offer.
Enter vibrant, mid-20s nanny ‘Tully’ (Mackenzie Davis) who goes beyond expectations…in various ways.
Is she too good to be true?
Let’s just say that there are some bumps in the road.
And while Marlo—thanks to Tully—now seems to rediscover herself, it’s a complicated and winding road that brings her to that conclusion.
Hopes, dreams and parenthood hit motherhood smack in the face when her young daughter wants to know “Mom, what’s wrong with your body?”
TULLY is an independently produced comedic-drama that premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival.
It’s a thoughtful and challenging window to (almost) midlife crisis—and a long, LONG way from Charlize Theron’s last display as the ATOMIC BLONDE.
My grade: B
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