REVIEW: Brilliant Charlize Theron makes movie motherhood matter in a whole new way in Tully

REVIEW: THE long trials, tribulations and ultimate triumph of pregnancy and birth are rarely, if ever covered adequately in movies, which is why Tully — which dares make PND the driving premise of its story — is definitely something to be applauded.

THE long trials, tribulations and ultimate triumph of pregnancy are rarely, if ever covered adequately in movies.

The standard-format motherhood montage usually shorthands the whole nine months as some sex, a bulging belly, some deep breaths, maybe a sweaty forehead, definitely a piercing scream and — voila! — we have ourselves a baby.

As for those equally crucial months after childbirth, well, the movies have always kept those housed in the too-hard basket.

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Mackenzie Davis, left, and Charlize Theron in a scene from Tully. Picture: Kimberly French/Focus Features via AP

Especially when it comes to depicting how mothers carry or shed the psychological weight added by a bout of postnatal depression (PND).

Therefore the arrival of a movie like Tully — which not only acknowledges the existence of PND, but dares make it the driving premise of its story — is definitely something to be applauded.

However, if you are thinking Tully is something to be endured to be admired, you will be in for both a shock and a surprise.

Courtesy of a willing, winning performance by Charlize Theron and the crack writing-directing combo of Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman (best known for their first collaboration, Juno), Tully is actually a funny, vibrant and enlivened screen experience.

Rarely has there been a movie with such an astute take on the pleasure, the pain and the privilege so particular to motherhood.

Mackenzie Davis in a scene from Tully. Picture: Kimberly French/via AP

Theron plays the lead role of Marlo, an exhausted New York mother who has just given birth to her third child.

Though hints are given that Marlo may have gone through a struggle with PND with one of her older children, she seems to be doing fine with the new baby.

The reason why appears to be fairly obvious. Marlo’s wealthy brother Craig (Mark Duplass) has provided a gift that has just kept on giving from the moment it arrived: a night nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis).

The mere act of sleeping through the evening without being roused to attention by a crying child is manna from heaven for Marlo and her hardworking husband Drew (Ron Livingston).

However, Tully is not content with simply tending to the needs of an infant in the dead of night.

Soon enough, this enigmatic, free-spirited young woman is exerting an influence over Marlo, her relationship with her husband and her bond with her children in strange, unpredictable and liberating ways.

This image released by Focus Features shows Charlize Theron, left, and Mark Duplass in a scene from "Tully." (Kimberly French/Focus Features via AP)

Could it all be too good to be true? Without straying anywhere near the spoiler zone, there would be no movie worth watching if it was all plain sailing from so early on in the plot, wouldn’t it?

However, when the screenplay does finally pivot and pushes Marlo towards a parental point of no return, you will be still be camped on subsequent developments with great interest, worry and perhaps, a little bit of hope.

Charlize Theron in a scene from Tully. Picture: Kimberly French via AP

TULLY (M)

Rating: four stars (4 out of 5)

Director: Jason Reitman (Juno)

Starring: Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, Ron Livingston, Elaine Tan.

Here comes a mother one, not like the other ones

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