Tully

Tully is a tricky movie to review on two levels. First, all the way through I thought this film was a charming character-study lifted above the ordinary by some brilliant dialogue and some very sympathetic acting. It’s hard to review that because so much of it basically requires setting the whole scene. Second, and even harder to review this film ends with a twist and a fake out twist that threw both of us to think a different ending was coming. However, the twist that did arrive was signalled and did make sense too, so it didn’t feel like a cheat.

Essentially the story follows Marlo mother of two and, as we start the film, very pregnant with her third. Although she is coping, it is close. Her second child has unspecified behavioural problems (they looked a lot like autistic spectrum disorder with ADHD and something else added to me). She gives birth shortly into the film and lack of sleep with a new-born adds to the stress.

Her brother, who is wealthier and seems to have a perfect house, job and family, offers to help by employing a night nanny: someone to come in at nights, change the baby and make sure Marlo only has to wake up for feeding.

Marlo is reluctant, not wanting a stranger to bond with her baby, but after a really shitty day calls Tully and the two of them hit it off. The film largely follows their developing relationship as they come to know each other and Tully proves the perfect night nanny, letting Marlo res, cleaning the house and so on.

You will notice that, so far, there is no notice of the husband. He is present, and is fairly supportive. He helps with the kids’ homework, goes with work in the park and so on. But he works long hours and is away on trips a lot - Marlo loves him and appreciates what he does. I felt he was being depicted as more than typically supportive although definitely with room to improve, my companion thought he was depicted as a bit of a jerk. So your opinion of Drew may well vary.

In plot terms, such as they are, things finally come to a head when Tully announces its time for her to move on and Marlo doesn’t take it well. This builds to that ultimately satisfying and unexpected twist.

This sounds like a film that really shouldn’t work on a lot of levels but I was prepared to give it a chance and I really enjoyed it. There are a lot of things in this film I have of which I have no experience and some things I have limited experience of but not the day-to-day grind. Tully juggled showing enough to make us understand what Marlo was going through without it ever becoming a chore (I have no desire to live Marlo’s life, that would drive me insane). The characters of Marlo and Tully were both delightful to watch and their interactions, which make up the bulk of the film, were sharply observed and highly entertaining. Well worth your time.

Bechdel Test: nearly all of this film is named female characters, of who there are several, talking to each other. They talk about every subject under the sun, including at times men, but it easily passes.

Ko Test: fail. There is an Asian-American cast member, who is in three scenes, so it’s close but a fail.

Koeze-Dottie Test: tricky but pass. Normally I count the first 10 extras and see what the ratio is. 50%+ female makes it a pass. Tully only has 9 extras by the system I use, but 5 are women so I’m saying it’s a pass.

Landau Test: pass. This is a film with two female protagonists but there are no gendered barriers to the plot, nor gendered obstacles to thwart a friend or loved one.

Russo Test: pass. It emerges during the film that Marlo used to be in a serious relationship with a woman before she met and married Drew. Her bisexuality is a relatively trivial part of her character when it’s revealed that she can’t be defined as 'the bi one' and she’s certainly not a minor character so easy pass.