"The Nanny Diaries" is an entertaining, coming-of-age tale set to life in New York City's posh Upper East Side. Husband and wife team Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini ("American Splendor") have done a praiseworthy job of directing and translating the best-selling book into a witty, poignant, and surprisingly accurate (if not slightly exaggerated) portrayal of elite Manhattan society.
We're drawn into the story by observing real-life New Yorkers full of anxiety and superficiality depicted in satirical dioramas to be found in the Museum of Natural History. Our tour guide on this anthropologic field trip into primitive Upper East Side Manhattan is Annie Braddock (the always delightful Scarlett Johansson), a quintessential American 20-something, freshly graduated from college, nervously excited as she looks to find her place in life.
Her mother is eager to have her don a business suit and work on Wall Street to be financially successful. Annie, on the other hand, runs out of an interview at Goldman Sachs when she has trouble answering a question about who she is.
In her haste, she quite literally runs smack into her next employer, adorable Grayer (8-year-old Nicholas Reese Art), who immediately takes a liking to her. Grayer's mother, Mrs. X (Laura Linney), who's oozing Upper East Side nouveau riche, refuses to take no for an answer when she offers Annie the job as Grayer's nanny. And thus begins the anthropology lesson about the fascinating world of nannydom on the Upper East Side.
Like most fairytales, we can all relate to the characters' challenges, and even more so if you're a New Yorker. Though, if you happen to be a wealthy Upper Eastsider, you may find the outsider's perspective a bit biased and satirical. Laura Linney's interpretation of Mrs. X conjures up shades of Meryl Streep's memorable Academy Award-nominated performance in "The Devil Wears Prada," as she perfectly balances a character that you'd love to hate if you didn't feel so sorry for her. Charming Chris Evans ("The Fantastic Four") was well cast as the love interest, a.k.a. "Harvard Hottie."
The talented and usually consistent Paul Giamatti ("Sideways") comes up a bit short and unconvincing as Mr. X—just not quite fitting that Wall Street, investment banker look. The supporting cast is rounded out by Grammy Award-winning musician Alicia Keys, who delivers a solid performance as Annie's best friend and proves that her skills are suited to even bigger acting roles.
"The Nanny Diaries" is a foray into the world of adulthood for our heroine, complicated by the added facades and charades of the upper-class New York community. The journey is fascinating, enjoyable, and touching.
At the end of the movie, our protagonist learns an important lesson in anthropology, that in the process of observing a society you've actually changed it. Without divulging too much, let's just say this fairytale has a happy ending.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars
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