Surprising **spoilers** I'd heard good things about this film and am a fan of both Theron and Davis. Add in the Diablo Cody/Jason Reitman double act whose Juno and Young Adult are a couple of my favourites.
The film starts as a straightforward but well-observed portrait of a stressed out mum played by Charlize Theron, who has embraced this less than glamorous role by piling on the pounds - as she did for Monster. With 2 demanding little kids, a new baby arrives to expand the family and we wonder whether this addition will push Marlo over the edge. However evetually Marlo agrees to employ a night baby nurse and Tully (Mackenzie Davis) arrives.
SPOILERS
NOW
The first things that occurred to me as soon as Davis appears is how similar she looked to Theron - similar height, colouring etc. As it turns out, no accident, of course! The way the relationship is built between the two made me wonder if there was going to be a romance between them. There is an immediate intimacy and connection. Indeed, the scene when Tully dresses up in a waitress uniform and appears to seduce Marlo's pretty useless husband Ron Livingtone - apparently with Marlo's participation - seemed odd until you realise the twist of who Tully really is. The misdirect, that this might turn into a gay romance, continues as Marlo and Tully both refer to female flat mates who are clearly more than just a friend, but I must admit, I didn't guess that Tully was a representation of Marlo's younger self until the accident on the way back from a boozy night out. Tully is somehow a mermaid, Marlo is hospitalised and we learn her maiden name, yes, TULLY. Now it all makes sense - why Davis was cast for her similar physicality to Theron, why no one else ever saw Tully, that waitress seduction. We didn't really need the quick recap showing the highlights of the film but with Marlo alone where previously we had seen Tully. I spent the last few minutes rewinding it in my head and re-examining the events.
Huge kudos to Charlize Theron, who fully embraces the role and puts her flab proudly on display. But her performance is more than the weight gain. Frazzled stressed out mothers have been seen on screen in everything from Bad Moms to Ladybird, but Theron sells it completely.
However, there are plenty of unanswered questions about this film. Is it a portrayal of post-partum depression? Is the twist too much of a cheat? Does the film pull another con by making the husband quite so oblivious? For me, this was a surprising but fascinating film. That twist totally kicked the legs out from under me and I was really taken in. I was also super impressed by Theron's range - shaven headed action hero in Mad Max Fury Road, she shows again that she will do anything for a good role. I love her lack of vanity and commitment to characters with depth.
Not a big box office hit, I'm glad to see Theron in the awards conversation for this film. Diablo Cody and Jason Reitman are turning into one of my favourite combinations too.