Movie Review: The Nanny Diaries (2007)

The Nanny Diaries (2007)

A Lot of Sugar...Very Little Spice

Directed By: Shari Springer Bergman & Robert Pulcini
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Alicia Keys, & Chris Evans
MPAA Rating: “PG-13” (for language)

One might expect The Nanny Diaries to be a scathing satire of parents' over-dependence on nannies as well as their degrading attitudes towards the "hired help." You might think this, but that is not what it is. It is an excessively sweet film about a single family, on the verge of being torn apart by adultery and betrayal, and the young nanny who makes them realize the error of their ways. That young nanny is Annie Braddock (Johansson), a college graduate who, more or less, stumbled into the nannying business. The family is Mrs. X (Linney) and Mr. X (Paul Giamatti) and their young son, Grayer (Nicholas Reese Art). Their last name is not really X, but the film plays out like an anthropological research study so the need to keep the identities of the studied subjects secret is necessary.

Over time, Annie (who is not-so-affectionately known only as "Nanny") and Grayer form a strong friendship, perhaps one that transcends his with his own mother. Mrs. X is the type of mother who cut most ties to her son after giving birth to him, instead spending her time shopping and attending various social functions. One might think that an unemployed and very wealthy woman would have time for her single child, but the life of a socialite is perhaps the busiest one could ever live...or, at least, that is was Mrs. X would like you to think. Mr. X is an unpleasant man who is having a rather publicized affair when he isn't out of the state working, but Mrs. X is in denial or just doesn't care. I know I wouldn't want to be around Mr. X either, so it is difficult to blame her.

Much of the film is filled with the kinds of debacles, arguments, and accidents that usually fill these kinds of movies. Food is thrown, people fall down, and underwear is accidentally revealed at the most inopportune time. Fortunately, these shenanigans last for a short while and we soon move into a bit more mature ground. As we witness Mr. X degrade Mrs. X and ignore his child, Annie realizes that the controlling, stern Mrs. X is also a victim of the society to which she thinks she belongs. There are minor subplots that prove to be inconsequential and perhaps even annoying (i.e. Annie's mother who practically disowns her daughter once she discovers that she is a nanny). The film is at its best when it plays it straight, looking at the excessively-wealthy lifestyle through the eyes of a commoner. When it strays away, so do we.

I liked The Nanny Diaries, though it is a flawed film that is about half as intelligent as it thinks it is. It lacks the biting satire and social commentary that could have made the film a step above the usual chick flick. As it is, it is entertaining, funny, and heartfelt...though all of this is wrapped around a hollow center that is only decorated with good performances from Johansson and Linney, Linney giving a more likable and deep performance than her character probably deserved and Johansson giving us a sympathetic heroine to follow. It is perfectly sweet and charming...but it must be said that it deserved to be so much more. There is greatness lying just beneath the surface of The Nanny Diaries...but it is just too focused on being cute to ever realize that.