The Nanny Diaries (www.the-usher.com)

"Nanny... what are you doing?"

Having just graduated from college, Annie (Johansson) wondered what she wanted to do next. When she heads into New York City for her first big job interview, Annie inadvertently saves Grayer (Art) from a wayward Segway rider in Central Park but when his mother (Linney) mishears her name as 'Nanny' instead of 'Annie', she offer her a job. Thinking this could be a good way of making money for a year while she decides what to do next, Annie takes the job but she really doesn't know what she has let herself into.

Adaptations of popular novels are nothing new to movies but can 'The Nanny Diaries' successfully transfer from page to screen?

The much loved novel by Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus has been a firm favourite since its release and the book was we structured for a big screen adaptation, especially after the success of 'The Princess Diaries' and the 'Bridget Jones' movies. Now having the protagonist narrating as well as been the main focus is nothing new for female audiences but it is quickly becoming a firm favourite.

Annie is a normal, average girl from New Jersey who has just graduated from college. Here mother worked every hour she could as a nurse to put her through school and expects her daughter to get a great job to make her proud but Annie realises that she has to find herself before she can start her career. This is a thought that all young people have but instead of taking a year out to travel or do charity work, she decides to become a Nanny for an Upper East Side family. Wanting to be an anthropologist and seeing this as an opportunity to study New York high society, what she doesn't realise is that been a nanny is a much tougher job than she could ever have imaged. Keeping a dairy of her activities and shielding the names of employers and the people she meets, we see the completely inexperienced nanny enter a world of mothers who care more about their social standing than raising their children. Of course this is a building block for comedy, romance and a message but unfortunately co-screenwriters and directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini don't really produce that magical, feel good movie that fans of the book and female audiences would revel in.

The directing pair has put together a good cast however. Scarlet Johansson shines in the role of Annie, our narrating protagonist. She shows a real skill for physical comedy and of course works well in the dramatic sections of the film. Laura Linney is one of the best dramatic actresses working today and she embraces the cold, uncaring socialite with a real passion. Nicholas Art plays Grayer, the child that Annie has to bring up very well and he is a character that is surprisingly not at all annoying or overly cute. Alicia Keys proves again that she could be just as good an actress as she is a musician. There is also a good and important role for the brilliant Paul Giamatti to play, as Mr. X, the illusive businessman father who is not a very nice character at all. Chris Evans is wasted as Annie's love interest however.

'The Nanny Diaries' is a charming film but not as charming as it could have been. While the performances are good, it is the impact and unoriginality of the story that stop this from becoming a much-loved classic of the genre. The lack of any real emotional or comedic impact also limits its impact but it does manage to raise the odd smile.

PICTURE & SOUND

Presented in Widescreen 1.85:1 Anamorphic with a Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack, the transfer is good, as you'd expect from an animated movie.

BONUS FEATURES

Life at the top as seen from the Bottom: The making of the Nanny Diaries (16.45 mins)
Co-screenwriters/directors Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini, producer Richard Gladstein, authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus and stars Scarlett Johansson, Laura Linney, Alicia Keys, Chris Evans, Nicholas Art and Paul Giamatti take you behind the scenes of 'The Nanny Diaries'. The group talk about adapting the book, casting, working with the actors and the directors in this run of the mill featurette.

Confessions from the Original Nannies: The Authors of the Best Selling Book (22.28 mins)
Authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus talk about their reasons and influences behind writing the book, their real life nanny experiences, growing up in New York and the adaptation of their novel to the big screen.

Exclusive Bloopers presented by L'Oreal (4.05 mins)
Watch outtakes and goofs on set as the cast and crew have fun making 'The Nanny Diaries'

Theatrical Trailer (2.22 mins)
Watch the previews that showcased the film in cinemas and on the Internet.

Previews
Watch trailers for 'Dedication', 'Who's the Caddy', 'The Ex' and 'Factory Girl'

OVERALL

The DVD treatment for 'The Nanny Diaries' is very average. The featurettes are your typical Hollywood run of the mill patting on the back style and the lack of a commentary is a real shame. Fans will be a little disappointed with this release.

DVD

The Princess Diaries

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2007