Tuesday

Greetings again from the darkness. I thought the same thing. How can a movie featuring a giant talking macaw make any dramatic sense, or deliver a message that's worth hearing? Well, the first feature film from writer-director Daina Oniunas-Pusic does just that. We know the best fantasy stories and fables are based on harsh realities, and there is no reality more harsh than the fact that death comes for all of us. Now, whether death comes by the Grim Reaper, an Angel of Death, or a talking, size-shifting red macaw may be up for debate, but filmmaker Pusic and the cast deliver an immensely creative and thought-provoking look at death and all stages of grief.

The film opens by taking us on the daily routine of the Death Macaw as it visits those who have reached the end ... whether they are ready or not. Some go peacefully, others not so much. Soon it visits Tuesday (played by Lola Petticrew, SHE SAID, 2022). Tuesday has a terminal illness and is wheelchair-bound and tethered to an oxygen tank. She knows it's her time, but negotiates with the bird so she has a chance to tell her mother goodbye. A brilliant combination of humor-kindness-sarcasm-pot-music (Ice Cube)-and bathtime cause the death bird to give in and grant Tuesday's wish. Of course, such a decision means death is taking a break, thereby wreaking havoc around the globe.

Mother Zora (Julia Louis-Dreyfus, "Seinfeld", "Veep", 11 Emmys and counting) returns home and reacts quite aggressively ... actually violently ... to the bird that's there to take her daughter. Zora may be keeping secrets from her daughter, but it's with the best intentions to protect her. And protecting her is exactly what she thinks she's doing when she goes to war with the macaw (brilliantly voiced by Arinze Kene). This mother is just not willing to let her beloved daughter go without a fight ... a fight that shifts the tone of the movie, as well as mom's place in it.

It seems negotiations are ongoing between the parties, even though we all know there is no cheating death - at least not in the long run (some runs are longer than others). Yet, most of us spend each day warding off the idea or simply assuming it's not our time. We also know most parents will go to any length to protect their kids and ease any pain they might have. A significant portion of this story is about dealing with grief. Julia Louis-Dreyfus mostly replaces her usual goofy grin with a look of stress and anguish. Facing reality, she's despondent right up until she is enlightened. The filmmaker inserts an insightful blip near the end about God/the afterlife, and the best message is that grief must be dealt with. At some point, we must 'get on with it' and understand that the legacy of loved ones is carried on in our memories. Daina Oniunas-Pusic shows us some real creativity on a familiar topic, and it's pretty impressive.

Opens in theaters on June 14, 2024.

Interesting take on the concept of death and dying I kept waiting for the dream sequence to end. Then I realized this is not a dream. The movie runs a bit slow and somewhat disjointed. For instance, how many days, weeks, months does the movie cover. Some scenes change without explanation. More character building and backstory development would be helpful. Louis-Dryfus is stepping away from the roles she is usually seen in. She doing a good job as a dramatic actress. The acting is good by You definitely have to pay attention which can be hard when it begins to lag. If you are a Syfy fan, you may like this movie.

What would it look like if Studio Ghibli made a live-action film about death and the stages of grief? You would get TUESDAY, a movie about Zora (Julia Louis-Dreyfus), a mother who is in denial over the inevitable death of her terminally ill daughter Tuesday (Lola Petticrew). When they encounter Death itself (Arinzé Kene), they both react differently. To be clear, Studio Ghibli didn't make this, it just felt like it. We have A24 to thank for this endlessly fascinating unique experience. This movie goes to places I never see coming. Amidst the heavy themes and tone, there are moments of humor that lighten things up. I love the small but well thought out details involving world-building, and the mother-daughter dynamic. I'm also really enjoying seeing Julia in more indie dramatic roles recently, very good. Some people might find this movie slightly dragged halfway through, or they might find some scenes a little too weird, but as I must've said in a different review, my favourite kind of movies now are bold, weird and unique. TUESDAY hooked me in the first minute. I found it for rental, but I really hope a streaming service picks it up so it can have a wider audience. We need more movies like this. Remember, death is just a part of life. It's definitely sad, but it isn't inherently bad. Treasure the moments you have, with yourself and the people you love.

Tuesday (Lola Petticrew) is a dying teen. She is visited by death in the form of a size-changing macaw. Her mother Zora (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) is struggling with the issue.

This is a weird telling of this challenging subject matter. I can say that this movie has the benefit of being unique. I don't think that death has been represented in this way. I do have a couple of minor concerns. The tonal changes can be jarring. I would also like mother and daughter to have the same accent. I do get it. When Julia Louis-Dreyfus wants to do your little quirky British indie, you don't say no and you can't demand that she adopts a British accent. Those are minor issues when compared to the outsized uniqueness of the concept. In another ten years, I will remember this movie.

Death is never an easy thing to accept whether you know it may be time for it to visit you personally or when it's come to someone you love. I've had 2 liver transplants with the first being in 1989 and the second in 2023 and I'm only 35 years old. My Mom has been there beside me every...step..of..the..way, not just as my mother but also my best friend. The emotions of Julia Louis-Dreyfus in this film is not only the emotions of my mother and every loving mother on this planet, it's emotions I connected with so much due to the lengths I know my Mom has gone to to make sure I get at least one more day on earth with her. When I'm in pain, she's in pain just like Tuesday and her Mom Zora are.

This movie highlights grief, learning to let go even when you want to hold on to the ones you love with all your might as well as understanding the pain from both sides of the one losing/have lost someone and the one that is about to pass on.

My Mom cried just from watching the trailer as she connected with Tuesday's Mom's emotions just by imagining if it were her and I that experienced this incredible story. This film is truly one of a kind and something that not only made it's way to my heart but decided to stay there indefinitely.