Jason Reitman’s Tully is unapologetic in its portrayal of motherhood, showing all the ups and downs that comes with being a mom as well as the physical and emotional toll it can take on the body and mind. Like motherhood, the film is filled with both heartwarmingly wonderful moments as well as a couple of terrifying realizations. Regardless of whether or not you’re a mother or even a woman, Tully connects on a human level that will leave you appreciating life itself.
Marlo (Charlize Theron) is expecting her third child any day now but that hasn’t stopped her from her motherly duties of raising two other kids, one of which has social issues of his own that makes everything exponentially more difficult. To help with the new addition, Marlo’s brother-in-law gives her and her husband the gift of a night nanny; a person who comes at night to take care of the baby while the mother gets some much needed rest. Initially Marlo is reluctant to take him up on the offer, but it all eventually becomes too much and she is introduced to the young and energetic Tully (Mackenzie Davis) who is there to take care of her as much as her newborn.
On the surface, Tully is a film about a mother struggling with motherhood but as the film progresses it becomes more about a mother struggling to let go of her own past. For Marlo, Tully is a reminder of everything she used to be before she had kids. And while kids are awesome, there’s still a little part of her that wishes she was young and carefree again. Reitman does a phenomenal job at exploring this, and no one pulls it off better than Charlize Theron. She is absolutely fantastic in the role and captures the madness of raising a family and carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders.
Tully is a film you’re going to want to watch over again and again to get through all its layers and meanings. It’s beautifully intimate and brings a new appreciation towards motherhood. More importantly, the film will make you want to call your mom right after and tell her that you love her.