I couldn’t find a fractal to suitably illuminate today’s post, a review of The Nanny Diaries, so I chose an image called Tilework: it has no relevance to anything in the post but it’s a different-looking image than what you’ve seen in this blog. Hope you enjoy it and the post.
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Every year needs a movie about the trials and tribulations of Manhattan high society. Last year we got The Devil Wears Prada, a snarky character assassination of Vogue Editor Anna Wintour. This year we get The Nanny Diaries--an equally snaky but far less-than-involving tale of Annie Braddock, (Scarlet Johansen--this time with a dark brown dye job and showing little style or acting ability) as a girl from New Jersey who finds herself adrift after graduation and o ends up as a Nanny for a dysfunctional Upper East Side family. (Is there any other kind in the movies?)
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Tightly-wound “Mrs. X” (played to prickly perfection by Laura Linney) is too busy to take care of her only child Grayer (Nicholas Art--playing alternatively loving and completely bratty) “Her husband, Mr. X” (Paul Giamatti--who barely gets used here and makes little impact on screen) is an adulterous lout who brings new meaning to the term “self involved.” Donna Murphy has the thankless job of playing Annie’s controlling but ultimately supportive New Jersey Mom (and unlike Scarlet Johansen she actually does the “Jersey” accent!) Singer/songwriter Alicia Keys (in her first major acting role) does fine as fellow-graduate and best friend Lynette who’s busy pursuing her own NYC Dreams serves as a driving counterpoint to Annie’s drifting indifference. Pretty boy Chris Evans plays “Harvard Hottie”, the obligatory love interest that sparks Annie’s transformation.
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The movie is saddled with a “by-the-numbers” plot and too many physical comedy bits that we’ve seen since I Love Lucy (and probably before). Yes, the movie makes a point of criticizing and satirizing the Manhattan Socialite lifestyle (even going so far as to frame the entire production as an anthropological “case study“) but the writers are tilting at Straw Men. The commentary is heavy-handed and has little wit or style. Sadly, The Nanny Diaries lacks both the charm and savvy of last year’s The Devil Wears Prada. I had fun noting the few “Mary Poppins” references sprinkled throughout the film but these weird asides don’t quite jibe with the tone of rest of the movie. It was well shot and everything is lovely to look at but a lot of major talents are wasted.
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Like The Devil Wears Prada before it, The Nanny Diaries is aimed at fans of “chick lit.” Since I am neither a “chick” nor a fan of “chick lit” so obviously I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as the target audience. Still, even fans of the genre could probably skip this one at the theaters and wait to rent the DVD (when there’s nothing else on the shelves you want to watch.
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Every year needs a movie about the trials and tribulations of Manhattan high society. Last year we got The Devil Wears Prada, a snarky character assassination of Vogue Editor Anna Wintour. This year we get The Nanny Diaries--an equally snaky but far less-than-involving tale of Annie Braddock, (Scarlet Johansen--this time with a dark brown dye job and showing little style or acting ability) as a girl from New Jersey who finds herself adrift after graduation and o ends up as a Nanny for a dysfunctional Upper East Side family. (Is there any other kind in the movies?)
-
Tightly-wound “Mrs. X” (played to prickly perfection by Laura Linney) is too busy to take care of her only child Grayer (Nicholas Art--playing alternatively loving and completely bratty) “Her husband, Mr. X” (Paul Giamatti--who barely gets used here and makes little impact on screen) is an adulterous lout who brings new meaning to the term “self involved.” Donna Murphy has the thankless job of playing Annie’s controlling but ultimately supportive New Jersey Mom (and unlike Scarlet Johansen she actually does the “Jersey” accent!) Singer/songwriter Alicia Keys (in her first major acting role) does fine as fellow-graduate and best friend Lynette who’s busy pursuing her own NYC Dreams serves as a driving counterpoint to Annie’s drifting indifference. Pretty boy Chris Evans plays “Harvard Hottie”, the obligatory love interest that sparks Annie’s transformation.
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The movie is saddled with a “by-the-numbers” plot and too many physical comedy bits that we’ve seen since I Love Lucy (and probably before). Yes, the movie makes a point of criticizing and satirizing the Manhattan Socialite lifestyle (even going so far as to frame the entire production as an anthropological “case study“) but the writers are tilting at Straw Men. The commentary is heavy-handed and has little wit or style. Sadly, The Nanny Diaries lacks both the charm and savvy of last year’s The Devil Wears Prada. I had fun noting the few “Mary Poppins” references sprinkled throughout the film but these weird asides don’t quite jibe with the tone of rest of the movie. It was well shot and everything is lovely to look at but a lot of major talents are wasted.
-
Like The Devil Wears Prada before it, The Nanny Diaries is aimed at fans of “chick lit.” Since I am neither a “chick” nor a fan of “chick lit” so obviously I wouldn’t enjoy it as much as the target audience. Still, even fans of the genre could probably skip this one at the theaters and wait to rent the DVD (when there’s nothing else on the shelves you want to watch.
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FINAL GRADE: C-
FINAL GRADE: C-
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