The Nanny Diaries has a promising premise —an aimless, young grad (Scarlett Johansson) stumbles into the chaotic world of Manhattan’s ultra-wealthy when she becomes a nanny for “Mrs. X”, the matriarch of a dysfunctional Upper East Side family. Like with The Devil Wears Prada, this premise allows for plenty of sharp satire and class commentary. Unfortunately, the film doesn’t fully commit to either of these.
Johansson does her best with the material, bringing charm and some relatability to Annie, though the character often feels more like a plot device than a fully developed person. Laura Linney, on the other hand, is easily the movie’s standout, nailing her performance as the icy and emotionally distant “Mrs. X.” It would have been so easy for Linney to teeter over into caricature with this particular role – as some of the supporting wives do – but she perfectly balances the image-obsessed Mrs. X with an emotional vulnerability that gives the character some much-needed depth.
And then you have the romantic angle of The Nanny Diaries. While Mrs. X is coping with a straying, disinterested husband (played by the wonderfully smarmy Paul Giamatti), Annie is falling for the building’s “Harvard Hottie” (Chris Evans). As Hayden, Evans provides plenty of boy-next-door charisma. He and Johannson share a decent amount of chemistry. But the character is sorely underused, and Hayden and Annie’s romance feels more like an obligatory subplot than anything significant to the story.
The Nanny Diaries flirts with deeper themes, such as how privilege and personal growth both affect one’s parenting, but the movie instead settles for a candy-coated approach, rather than offering a more biting look at modern family dynamics and how they differ across economic disparities.
There are some moments I enjoyed, such as the way the movie frames Annie’s employment as an anthropological study and her growing bond with Grayer. Unfortunately, it’s just not enough to overcome the frustration of the movie’s wasted potential. I really believe that with a sharper script, it could have been just as biting and successful as The Devil Wears Prada in terms of class commentary and identity. But The Nanny Diaries plays it safe, hedging around more compelling ideas to give the audience a glossy, feel-good story that ultimately comes across as disingenuous.
I found The Nanny Diaries entertaining for what it was, but as a movie about navigating one of the most chaotic jobs in New York, it felt oddly tame. If they weren’t going to go all in with more complex themes, I would have liked more of the romantic angle – but I am obviously a bit biased there.
Watched: 01/29/2025
Notable Song: Closer by Joshua Radin
