Tully (2018)

Tully is one of those rare comedies that earns its laughs the hard way—by telling the truth about motherhood, marriage, and the bone-deep exhaustion that nobody posts about. Jason Reitman directs with a gentle, clear-eyed touch, letting Diablo Cody’s sharp, humane writing find humor in the mess without ever mocking it, while Charlize Theron gives a brave, lived-in performance that makes Marlo’s frayed edges feel heartbreakingly familiar. When Mackenzie Davis arrives as the night nanny, the film takes on a warm, slightly dreamy late-night vibe, and their chemistry becomes both a lifeline and a mirror, funny one moment and quietly devastating the next. It’s not for everyone—there’s frank sexuality, rough language, and an intimacy that can feel uncomfortably close—but if you want a movie that makes you feel seen and sends you out of the theater a little more tender toward other people, this one delivers.

Tully is clearly aiming for a raw, compassionate look at motherhood’s exhaustion, with Charlize Theron doing the kind of unglamorous, lived-in work that deserves respect. The problem is that the film sometimes reaches for “clever” storytelling choices that can feel artificial, pulling you out of what should be a grounded, emotionally honest experience. If you’re sensitive to portrayals of postpartum mental health, you may find its approach frustrating—more like a narrative device than something fully confronted with the weight it deserves. Still, if you want a bittersweet, adult dramedy with sharp observations, a strong central performance, and some genuinely funny, weary moments, it may land for you even if it doesn’t fully stick the landing.