Tully **** (2018, Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, Ron Livingston, Elaine Tan) – Movie Review

Charlize Theron plays early middle-aged Marlo, a mother of three including, early in the movie, a newborn. Marlo is married to the nice but unengaged Drew (Ron Livingston), who spends his time in bed with video games, has a troubled little boy his school wants to kick out, and is starting to go mental. So she finally reluctantly agrees to the gift of a temporary night nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis) by her brother (Mark Duplass).

There is briefly a hint that this might turn into a horror movie, but that isn’t this story at all. It is more like a love story, as Marlo and Tully start to form a special bond.

Diablo Cody, the Oscar-winning screen-writer of Juno (2007), comes up with a strong, original idea, some great scenes and situations, and some great dialogue. It is entirely Theron’s show, acting bravely and quite brilliantly, though Davis is the Laurel to her Hardy, the Bud to her Lou, the Wise to her Morecambe, in short, she is the indispensable support to the star turn.

Livingston and Duplass have their moments too, admittedly not many, in important but sidelined characters. They are the guest cameos on the show, which isn’t interested in men at all. Marlo and Tully eventually get quite a thing going, but the deal is, this is just a stopgap thing till Marlo gets her head back together.

Tully may be the perfect Mary Poppins nanny, and she is, but she is a temporary gift that will be taken away anytime soon. There is more than a hint, by the way, that Tully might not be real in any sense at all, just a figment of Marlo’s post natal imagination. Imagine that! A sort of Harvey character! Well, well, well!

It is attentively and conscientiously directed by Jason Reitman, the maker of Juno (2007). Tully makes quite an impact and leaves quite an impression. It is not a sequel to anything and will hopefully never start a franchise or a TV series. It is a unique, special one-off. For this, many thanks Theron and Cody. It is especially good to have Theron back in acting mode again, after her action heroine movies.

Here’s a little thing. Why isn’t the movie called Marlo rather than Tully, as it is all about Marlo. Or at least it could be Marlo and Tully. It is just a thought.

Theron previously starred in Cody’s film Young Adult (2011) together.

© Derek Winnert 2018 Movie Review

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