The Nanny Diaries > Reviews > Annie The Nanny

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Liked it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	enjoyable, not too hard to concentrate on
Disadvantages:	-

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

The film I am about to review hasn't actually been released here it was just released in America. The reason I was able to review it is because I have an American friend who works in the film industry and was given the film for critical purposes. Since it is near the weekend this was the perfect kind of film to watch quite easy to follow, nice film with no fighting scenes, swearing, just a general family film. It's weird a while back I had come across a novel called the Nanny Diaries by Nicola Kraus and Emma McLaughlin and then as soon as I heard this title I thought I wonder if it is based on that book. I had always had it on my 'to read' list but had never gotten round to it so I took the lazy option of watching the film version.

So, we begin the story off with Annie Braddock (Scarlett Johansson) she has just graduated from university and is on the look out for the ideal job. She gets ready for her first interview until they ask her the hardest question she has faced yet 'who is Annie Braddock'? She thinks and then walks out with no answer as she doesn't really know herself who she is. She looks at examples on the street of a typical New York woman but that is not herself and she is unsure of everything. She takes a walk in the park and then helps a little child. The mothers asks her name and on the response of Annie she goes 'Oh a nanny' and in-between all of Annie's buts the woman does not stop and continues going 'oh great, here's my number, I hope to hear from you soon'.

A few seconds later another woman over hears and before she knows it about twenty women are handing over their numbers to Annie all in need of a nanny. At first Annie doesn't really consider the idea and dismisses it as a misunderstanding but then she thinks about it and realises it could earn her some money and get her away from living with her mother. After seeing a few of the mothers Annie wants to look after the original offer by Mrs X. The woman lives on the Upper East Side a wealthy area and is always busy and her husband is always away working so he hardly sees the son Grayer (odd name I know). At first when Annie goes to pick up Grayer he is not as nice as on the day they met in the park.

After several kicks and screams of 'I hate you' Annie realises that maybe this job is not as easy as she'd originally thought. She is given a small bedroom and a rule book to follow and is practically working every second of the day soon giving up her own life. She meets with the other nannies who ask her what kind she is; soon Annie is also attending meetings where the nanny and their boss all meet up to discuss any problems they may be having. Of course all of the wealthy women try to make on they have the worst nanny ever in a hope to gain sympathy. Annie rarely gets to do anything herself and is always with Grayer and the parents have no time for their son. The X's marriage does not seem so good either and Annie gets really close with Grayer that soon she finds that it may be harder than she thought to leave the job.

The film seemed to go by quickly and it did have a good plot but it wasn't the most exciting film ever. Scarlett Johansson was good in the film but I am not a big fan of hers and don't feel she is a great actress but just mediocre. It was quite an easy roll and wasn't really challenging she didn't have to display too much emotion in the film, although some parts were funny I didn't feel I could really relate to the character and don't if I'd choose her for the nanny as she didn't seem to display a warm, loving nanny figure.

Laura Linney as the cold rich mother was great she always picks different roles and I've never seen her in something like this before. She was rich and I felt sorry for her in a way but also didn't like her at the same time. She was a character you didn't want to like but couldn't help but feel for and I really like the development of her character because as the film goes on she seems more humane and less of a snobby upper class wife.

It isn't a film which will teach you a lot but is a pleasant film to watch and has a nice message to it. I haven't read the book so cannot compare between the both but I might be persuaded to after watching the film.

The film has not been given a UK release date but I'm sure it will be out soon. Its website is at http://www.thenannydiariesmovie.com/ where you can view the trailer. Also if the story sounds appealing and you can't wait for the film, why not read the book which can be purchased at Amazon for £5.99. 

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