The underside of Nanny-dom is explored in this drama, as well as a look at the scariness of the after-college world. The young but gifted actress Scarlett Johansson (“The Prestige”) plays the main character who has just graduated and falls into a nanny position for a wealthy family. Enjoyable non-traditional storytelling is used at the beginning and throughout the film, making for insightful and humorous narrative. Unfortunately, the journey of the main character is not as fulfilling as it could have been, leaving the audience somewhat unenthused by the eventual outcome.
Johansson is Annie Braddock, a recent business major grad, who feels a bit dumbstruck with the idea of the end of school. Her mother, a nurse, pushes her into a potential position at a big company, which Annie isn’t sure she wants. As if by fate, Annie meets Mrs. X (Laura Linney; “Breach”) and her son, Grayer, who are desperately looking to replace the child’s former nanny. Annie thinks this may be a good way to duck out of making a decision about her life after college, and decides to take the position temporarily. However, Grayer turns out to be a much more difficult child than anticipated, and the parents are no help to her. Meeting a guy from the same building she nicknames Harvard Hottie (Chris Evans; “Fantastic Four”), along with the accumulating issues tied to this family, becomes overwhelming as she looks for answers.
Linney puts in a typically wonderful performance, as the wealthy mother of the child - who doesn’t work and who’s husband is always away on business - yet she never manages to have time for her child. Her coldness and formality can’t completely hide a woman with her own emotional issues right below the surface. Paul Giamatti (“Cinderella Man“) - who seems to be in everything lately - portrays Mr. X with a harshness and distractedness which makes him instantly dislikeable and one-dimensional. The two parents make little change throughout the movie in their behaviors, which is unfortunate because their characters’ development would have made for a more emotionally resonate film.
Especially disconcerting is that Annie, who seems to come across as very real and sweet, never stands up for herself or makes that life changing epiphany the audience is waiting for. Instead she suffers along with this family, seemingly unable to get herself out of a bad situation. The child, while cute enough, isn’t as strong a performer as Dakota Fanning was in “Uptown Girls”, a superior version of a similar story. The best scenes are between the boy and Annie, which can be funny, infuriating, and poignant - because unlike everyone else, the child shows the capacity to change during the story. While there are heartfelt performances by the cast and a fun nod to Mary Poppins, “The Nanny Dairies” won’t move you in more than a perfunctory way.
Rated PG-13 for language.
