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Parents' Guide to

Tully

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Female stars shine in dark comedy about motherhood.

Movie R 2018 96 minutes
Tully Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

Community Reviews

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age 17+

Based on 4 parent reviews

Olesya
Olesya Adult
February 23, 2019
age 18+

Great movie to watch with father of your child

I must tell you guys it is real , it is real when you don’t have money and you husband is trying to make it way through , it’s hard and it may be something for families to understand - take care of mom! She is wife lover , she is supporter and caretaker , she is the manager of their place where all family comes and sleeps and eats and does all the staff. Be grateful and attentive to mom !!!

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
ahmed aiman 99
ahmed aiman 99 Adult
January 27, 2019
age 16+

So WARM, and also RAW!

It was on my watchlist throughout the entire last year! I finally saw it, and I LOVED it! The first act is the best without a doubt; it's solid, intimate, and relatable. We also get to know a lot of things about the characters that are fairly enough to flesh them out. Most importantly, Marlo, the protagonist that is played by the amazing Theron, who effortlessly delivered a performance that is definitely worthy to be nominated for an Oscar. Near the end of the first half of the movie I felt that the movie is going to take a familiar path to continue its story, as the real problem has been solved so early. That what happens, except for the unorthodox way it happens with. This unique way of storytelling didn't redeem the issue of solving the problem only after the first half of the movie (which has some consequences that I consider the real issue with this movie), but it helped to delve deeper into the main theme of the movie, and hence gave us the moral at the end in a fulfilling way. This disguised-as-a-plot-twist way also added to the "quirkiness" of the movie. Case in point, the brilliant use of foreshadowing through the editing. The aforementioned "consequences" are the major issue I have with this movie, simply because the new problem of the second half of the plot came out of nowhere. So I wasn't surprised when I found that the movie began to lost me at the end of the second act, and completely lost me before the last 10-15 minutes, when I began to care about the characters once more after the reveal of the "plot-twist". Such a warm and a bit "quirky" hidden gem that captures the psychological process of maturity and maternity in a way that is both sincere and raw. (7.5/10)

This title has:

Great messages
Great role models
Too much drinking/drugs/smoking
See all 4 parent reviews

What's the Story?

TULLY, director Jason Reitman and writer Diablo Cody's third dark comedy together, stars Charlize Theron as Marlo, a heavily pregnant mother of two juggling family life with her husband, Drew (Ron Livingston), in New York State. During a visit to Marlo's far wealthier brother Craig's (Mark Duplass) house for dinner, Craig announces that, for their baby gift, he and his wife would like to hire a night nurse so that Marlo, who experienced postpartum depression after her previous birth, can get some rest. Marlo initially nixes the idea. But after the baby is born, the day-to-day grind of feeding, changing, cleaning up, cooking, and dealing with her two older kids -- the younger of which has unspecified behavioral and anxiety issues -- leaves her utterly exhausted. So Marlo calls the night nurse, and, one night, young Tully (Mackenzie Davis), a charismatic and calming 20-something, shows up and works her magic. Marlo is completely re-energized by Tully's help, and soon the two women begin to bond in a life-changing way.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (4 ):
Kids say (3 ):

Reitman and Cody's third film together is far more charming and honest than their first two movies; it shines a spotlight on how exhausting and isolating motherhood can sometimes be. Studies have shown that, even in double-income families, mothers do the lion's share of the work at home, a percentage that must be even higher right after a new baby joins the family, as is the case for Marlo and Drew. Livingston does a fine job portraying Drew, a sweet but slightly clueless guy who ends each night decompressing by putting on his headphones and playing a first-peron shooter video game. And Theron is painfully believable as a mom of three in survival mode, struggling under the weight of a child with special needs, an infant, and a husband who's great with the kids but not exactly pulling his weight. Enter the vibrant, zen Tully, and it's obvious why Marlo begins to rely on her for the co-parenting.

Davis is wonderful; she's a fabulous, evocative actor. The film is at its best when she and Theron are on screen together, passing the baby back and forth, having superficial -- and later, deep -- conversations, and eventually heading out on a somewhat ill-fated girls' night out. There's something magical about Tully, and some viewers may figure out just why that is earlier than others (no spoilers here!). Even though you might get the uncomfortable sense that Tully's overall message is that no mother can be truly happy without paid help, just wait. By the end, there's far more to the story, resulting in a moving exploration of how trying modern-day motherhood can be for many women.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Tully's messages regarding motherhood and the expectations that modern moms face. Do you think mothers face more criticism, guilt, and depression than fathers? If so, why? How are gender divisions of labor typically handled?

  • Is the movie making a statement about what makes a "good" or "bad" mother? Do you agree? Can you think of other movies about moms? How does this one compare?

  • The movie touches on class-based issues. What does Craig mean when he says that night nurses/nannies are a thing that "all" of his friends do. Why does he say he understands it might be a "bougie" thing to do, but it will still help Marlo postpartum? How can money/lack thereof affect sibling and other relationships?

  • Are there any role models in the movie? What are their character strengths? How does Tully show Marlo compassion and empathy?

Movie Details

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