THE NANNY DIAIRIES is a saccharine and annoying comedy that tries to incorporate touches of whimsical fantasy that don't really work. The film stars Scarlett Johansson as Annie Braddock (Why are female movie characters always named Annie, not Ann? I've never known an Ann in my life who likes to be called Annie), a recent college graduate who stumbles into a job as a Nanny for the child of an unhappy, upwardly mobile couple residing on Manhattan's lower east side. The predictable story finds Annie initially hating the position but soon unable to leave because she doesn't want to leave the child alone with his dysfunctional parents. The film suffers from pedestrian direction and a screenplay that tries WAY too hard to be cute and smart, most notably Annie's obnoxious Carrie Bradshaw-like narration that really grates on the nerves. Johansson's lifeless performance in the starring role doesn't help either...the camera loves Johansson but this is performance completely devoid of anything resembling comic timing. Johansson looks embarrassed just being involved in this debacle. The supporting cast is first rate though...Laura Linney's crisp performance as the boy's mother is perfection as is Tony Winner Donna Murphy's turn as Annie's mother and Grammy winner Alicia Keys as Annie's best friend. It cannot be denied that Nicholas Art is adorable as Annie's young charge and hunky Chris Evans is wasted as a romantic interest. It's SEX AND THE CITY meets MARY POPPINS and it just doesn't work.
Review of The Nanny Diaries
