Mackenzie Davis and Charlize Theron star in a scene from the movie "Tully." The Catholic News Service classification is L -- limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. (CNS/Focus Features)

By Catholic News Service

Though it winds up strongly affirming marriage and family life, this comedy takes a path to that positive outcome that most viewers may not wish to follow.

As a baby present to mark the arrival of her third child, an already overworked and exhausted mother (Charlize Theron) is offered the free services of a night nanny (Mackenzie Davis) by her prosperous brother (Mark Duplass). Though she hesitates to accept the gift at first, once she relents, she finds that the relief provided by the remarkably gifted, free-spirited young caregiver revitalizes her relationship with her loving but distracted husband (Ron Livingston) and with their two older kids (Lia Frankland and Asher Miles Fallica).

Yet all is not as it seems. Some of the moral difficulties inherent in director Jason Reitman’s film, as scripted by Diablo Cody, are offset by its ultimate point. Others are resolved by unforeseen plot development. Still others, however, remain, though mostly in the background.

Some misguided values, including implicit acceptance of promiscuity and homosexual acts, strong sexual content involving pornographic images, nudity, marital lovemaking and a problematic scene of childhood sexuality, a couple of uses of profanity, numerous rough and crude terms. The Catholic News Service classification is L — limited adult audience, films whose problematic content many adults would find troubling. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is R — restricted. Under 17 requires accompanying parent or adult guardian.

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