“The Nanny Diaries” (The Weinstein Company)
Child Care Among the Rich and Famous
“The Nanny Diaries” is a look at the way some of the rich and famous tend to their kids. In the instances shown in the film it is a palming off of their offspring, and in most instances the “nannies” are substitute mothers who really care for those in their charge. The film presents most of the views in a comic sense but underneath it all runs a serious streak. The movie ends up being a dramatic comedy with lessons to be learned from what is seen.
Scarlett Johansson plays Annie Braddock, a young college graduate who is being pushed towards a career in the business world. Her mother Judy (Donna Murphy) wants her daughter to have a better life than she has had. But Annie doesn’t think a business career is right for her. Undecided she accepts a position as a nanny for Mr. and Mrs. X (Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney).
The X’s child is named Grayer (Nicholas Art) and Annie immediately takes to him. Not so easy to take are the X’s. Mrs. X is an icy socialite who demands the best for her child but never wants to be with him. She is more involved with her charities and keeping Mr. X happy. She is totally demanding of Annie and expects her to be available twenty-four/seven.
Mr. X is a womanizer who also has no time for his son. He spends as much time as possible at his office or on the road. Because he is such a loser the audience actually begins to feel some sympathy for Mrs. X.
Annie does meet a cute guy. He is the “Harvard hottie” (Chris Evans), as she calls him, who lives across the hall from the X’s. Somehow they manage to connect and soon he is urging her to quit her job as it is a no win situation. Annie loves Grayer though and can’t imagine leaving him in his mother’s care.
Johansson is great in the role of Annie. She downplays her stunning looks and plays up her likeability. You ache for Annie every time she is abused by her employers and warm to her over and over again as she fights to give Grayer some sort of stability in his life.
Linney is amazing as Mrs. X. She manages to be cold and heartless throughout most of the film but in the end you are having sympathy for this “devil.” Few actresses could make this sort of transition and make it believable but Linney can and does.
Giamatti is totally despicable as Mr. X. He brings up every unlikeable trait you can imagine and paints it on to him. Few actors would want to play a role this hated but Giamatti dives into it with gusto.
Evans is fine as the romantic interest for Annie and Alicia Keyes has some charming moments as Annie’s best friend. Art is a heart stealer as Grayer. He conveys a lot of emotion for a child so young.
The movie is rated PG-13 for profanity and mild sexual situations.
“There is a lot of charm contained in “The Nanny Diaries.” If it weren’t so full of heart and humor it would be a disaster. In this instance the filmmakers knew how to blend the drama and the comedy and also how to warm up the audience to the characters on screen. It all works and “The Nanny Diaries” sends you out of the theater with a warm feeling.
I scored “The Nanny Diaries” a well tended 6 out of 10.
