Tully

Rated R
1 hour 35 minutes
Starring: Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Ron Livingston

I’m still not really sure what I thought of this movie.  Charlize Theron plays a woman who has two kids, including one with special needs that requires a LOT of attention and patience, and is pregnant with another child.  When she is almost at her wits’ end after having her third child and trying to keep up, her brother talks her into hiring a “night nanny” named Tully.  She is VERY reluctant at first, but eventually gets comfortable with Tully and everything starts coming together and working for everyone.  It felt real to me.  Like an actual mom trying to deal with everything.  There was quite a twist at the end I didn’t really care for, but the more I think about it, the more I’m OK with it.  I probably don’t need to see it again, but overall, I’d say I liked this one.

Library Link: Tully (DVD)


Life of the Party

Rated PG-13
1 hour 45 minutes
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Matt Walsh

I used to like Melissa McCarthy alright, but it seems like I’ve enjoyed watching her less and less with each movie she’s been in.  But then I still watch her movies, hoping they’ll get better.  With this one, I’m glad I gave it a shot!  She plays a woman whose husband decides he wants a divorce after a long marriage and she’s left wondering what to do.  Instead of her life being “over,” she decides to go back to college and get her degree – at the same college her daughter is attending.  I was glad it wasn’t just her acting stupid trying to get laughs and embarrassing her daughter over and over the whole movie.  Her daughter and her friends actually realized how much she knew about “life” and accepted her as one of their own, allowing her to relive her college days a little.  It wasn’t very serious, wasn’t the funniest movie, and wasn’t very realistic, but it all made for a nice story.  I hope McCarthy stays on this path, rather than just over-the-top stupidity like she’d been doing.

Library Link: Life of the Party (DVD)


Blockers

Rated R
1 hour 42 minutes
Starring: Leslie Mann, John Cena

This movie was just dumb!!!  I can’t believe what passes for comedy anymore!  I thought it looked like it could be funny, but I was wrong!  Not to say there weren’t funny parts, but it was just more rude and crude than anything – and just ridiculous.  The story is about three parents that are trying to do anything they can to stop their daughters from losing their virginity on prom night.  They run into all kinds of “obstacles” along the way and eventually realize they need to let their daughters go and allow them make their own decisions.  This movie just felt like over-the-top, “slapstick” type humor that completely fell flat – over and over and over.  I get that some people might like these types of movies, but I guess I’m not one of them!  If you want to waste your time, then give this one a shot!

Library Link: Blockers (DVD)