Jason Reitman is a talented director, but he’s had a few duds in recent years. Fortunately, his earlier works have given him a little leeway. His latest effort, and reunion with Diablo Cody, is Tully. Tully follows a pregnant mother of two named Marlo (Charlize Theron) who struggles to get a good night’s sleep following the birth of her third child. Her wealthy brother buys her a baby gift in the form of Tully (Mackenzie Davis), a night nanny who cares for the newborn while Marlo gets some much needed sleep. Their bond strengthens over time and Marlo finds herself rebuilding her relationship with her husband thanks to help from Tully and Tully seeks advice from Marlo as her carefree nature becomes more difficult to manage.
There are a lot of things that work well here. First, the dynamic between Theron and Davis is very honest and charming. Theron is a phenomenal actress, but this isn’t the most flashy role, so it’s truly endearing how well she plays a jaded, middle-aged mom on the verge of a nervous breakdown. But it is Davis who truly shines in her role as a free-spirit and the energy she brings to the role draws the audience in from her first scene. The other thing that really works is Reitman and Cody’s teamwork. Reitman is a master of the subtleties of the screen and Cody’s script gives him plenty of room to work.
A masterful performance by Theron makes this film a powerhouse of the indie film market.
Reitman has finally returned to form here and I hope that he can continue this trend, since I give this one…
4.5 out of 5
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