Annie (Scarlet Johansson) graduates college supported by her hard working, sacrificing, single parent nurse mother and best friend. Annie is unsure of what she wants to do exactly after college - she seems to want to pursue her minor in anthropology but also feels pulled to follow the more practical path of finance (her major). Sitting in the park one day contemplating what she wants to do and how she visions her life, she literally "runs" into a preschool age boy, Grayor. After a then rushed conversation with the mother (who thinks she is saying "Nanny" and not "Annie") she receives a business card and job offer.

Annie decides that "just for the summer" she will work for this Upper East Side, wealthy family as the boy's Nanny. This is with no experience and no knowledge shown of how to work with children. The parents are just known as "Mr. and Mrs. X" and rarely pay Annie any mind. They constantly bark out commands to her and treat her like Annie is at their beck and call. They have a series of strict rules Greyor is to follow, and the whole situation quickly shows that Annie is over her head ... but determined to figure it out. She in part approaches it like an "anthropology study", looking at a culture different than hers.

Along the way she learns to love and appreciate Grayor, (who is virtually ignored by his parents), feel sorry for the couple who clearly shows that money cannot buy happiness, finds a boy she likes, keeps in contact with her best friend, and lies to her mother about where she is working.

Along the way Annie "finds" her place in life, and the movie ends hopeful that she now knows what she wants to do with her life.

The movie is based on a book by the same name, a book I did not read. Maybe it would have better prepared me for the movie, but as for a movie on its own, it wasn't very good. I really felt like I was watching a "movie" and not characters I could identify with. The rich family seemed "fake" to me and since I am not familiar with that lifestyle it seemed typical for everything I've seen "movie-wise" about people with money. I hate that it really played in to that stereotyped idea. Even the little boy was stereotyped into the "I just want to be loved that's why I act so bratty" character. I personally kept comparing it to the movie "Uptown Girl" - now there's a girl and Nanny you feel connected to quickly.

I just felt like this movie, while having a good cast on paper, just had some major issues with the plot and connecting the characters to us. The first thing my husband said after this movie ended was, "Was there supposed to be a plot?!" ... I felt better when I realized I wasn't alone.

Beyond that I found the movie leaving me with lots of "practical" questions. No one hires a Nanny without references. Who just gives them keys and free reign to take their child anywhere? The expectations and even the day to day happenings just seemed fake - I never envisioned people "really" living like this.

I thought The Nanny Diaries left a lot to be desired.

Recommended:
No

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Fit for Friday Evening
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children Age 13 and Older