Movie Info

RATING:

PG-13 for some foul language and mature themes

GENRE:

Comedy

RELEASE:

August 24, 2007

STARRING:

Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Paul Giamatti, Nicolas Reese Art, Alicia Keys, Chris Evans, and Donna Murphy

DIRECTORS:

Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini

DISTRIBUTOR:

MGM/Sony Pictures Entertainment (USA)

 

Please Note

In providing movie reviews on our site, CBN.com is not endorsing or recommending films we review. Our goal is to provide Christians with information about the latest movies, both the good and the bad, so that our readers may make an informed decision as to whether or not films are appropriate for them and their families.

MOVIE REVIEW

The Nanny Diaries

Movieguide Magazine

What's This?

CBN.com - The Nanny Diaries is a clever, funny, heartbreaking, ultimately inspiring movie about parents, children, marriage, romance, love, and life. One of its few drawbacks is its PG-13 rating, which means that it has some foul language and mature themes, though not salaciously so.

The movie stars Scarlett Johansson as Annie Braddock (who narrates the story), a New Jersey woman who has graduated college as a finance major, with a minor in anthropology. Judy, Annie’s mother, wants Annie to go into finance, but Annie’s first love is anthropology. Her first job interview question in Manhattan’s finance district is, “Who is Annie Braddock?” Annie finds that she has no idea who she is and, panicked, runs out of the interview.

Annie sits on a Central Park bench pondering the question posed to her. Suddenly, she springs to action to save a young boy from being run down by a mechanical scooter. The boy’s mother, a high-class woman from the Upper East Side, profusely thanks Annie. She invites Annie to be her boy’s new nanny and gives Annie her card. Suddenly, Annie is inundated by cards from other desperate mothers in the park.

Annie accepts the first woman’s offer and narrates her experiences tending to the woman’s boy, Grayer. Annie treats her story as if it were an anthropological study. For instance, she calls the woman and her husband Mr. and Mrs. X and thinks of the characters as a life-sized diorama exhibit in a museum.

Annie finds out that Mr. and Mrs. X couldn’t care less about their poor son. In fact, Mr. X doesn’t really care all that much for Mrs. X anymore.

The rest of the movie shows Annie’s struggles with these absentee parents. As her compassion for the little boy grows, Annie becomes aware that her commitment to his happiness and growth has trapped her in a relationship with two adults whom she can’t stand. Mr. X’s philandering and bullying lead to some significant decisions.

The Nanny Diaries is brilliantly done. It has the right balance of comedy, pathos, wit, drama, and charm. The actors inhabit their characters perfectly, making them seem like real people you could meet on the street.

The Nanny Diaries will make you laugh, cry, and think. It has several positive messages. It encourages viewers to love and support the people around them, especially family members. It also tells parents to take the time to care for and know their children. Furthermore, it also shows that money doesn’t bring happiness or love. Best of all, perhaps, it shows that children are our most precious resource.

The movie contains plenty of foul language, however, including one “f” word and a few strong profanities. Also, the movie has a negative view of most men and most rich people. Balancing out this stereotype is the character of a handsome rich young man Annie meets who is a really nice guy. Finally, Annie lies to her mother about getting a job as a nanny because her mother wants her to go into the business world instead of pursuing her dream job as an anthropologist.

More movie reviews on CBN.com

For more stories like this one, sign up to receive Entertainment News from CBN.com in your email every week.