Scarlett Johansen and Laura Linney in "The Nanny Diaries"
"This Nanny Is No Ninny"

Some best sellers make very good movies while others just flop. Then there are those that are okay. "The Nanny Diaries" is okay. It captures the essence of the book but somehow just isn't as much fun. Maybe in our minds eye the characters can be more extreme than they appear on film.

Basically "The Nanny Diaries," which is now out on DVD, is a look at the way some of the rich and famous tend to their kids. In the instances shown in the film it is a palming off of their offspring, and in most instances the "nannies" are substitute mothers who really care for those in their charge. The film presents most of the views in a comic sense but underneath it all runs a serious streak. The movie ends up being a dramatic comedy with lessons to be learned from what is seen.

Scarlett Johansson plays Annie Braddock, a young college graduate who is being pushed towards a career in the business world. Her mother Judy (Donna Murphy) wants her daughter to have a better life than she has had. But Annie doesn't think a business career is right for her. Undecided she accepts a position as a nanny for Mr. and Mrs. X (Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney).

The X's child is named Grayer (Nicholas Art) and Annie immediately takes to him. Not so easy to take are the X's. Mrs. X is an icy socialite who demands the best for her child but never wants to be with him. She is more involved with her charities and keeping Mr. X happy. She is totally demanding of Annie and expects her to be available twenty-four/seven.

Mr. X is a womanizer who also has no time for his son. He spends as much time as possible at his office or on the road. Because he is such a loser the audience actually begins to feel some sympathy for Mrs. X.

Annie does meet a cute guy. He is the "Harvard hottie" (Chris Evans), as she calls him, who lives across the hall from the X's. Somehow they manage to connect and soon he is urging her to quit her job as it is a no win situation. Annie loves Grayer though and can't imagine leaving him in his mother's care.

Johansson is great in the role of Annie. She downplays her stunning looks and plays up her likeability. You ache for Annie every time she is abused by her employers and warm to her over and over again as she fights to give Grayer some sort of stability in his life.

Linney is amazing as Mrs. X. She manages to be cold and heartless throughout most of the film but in the end you are having sympathy for this "devil." Few actresses could make this sort of transition and make it believable but Linney can and does.

Giamatti is totally despicable as Mr. X. He brings up every unlikeable trait you can imagine and paints it on to him. Few actors would want to play a role this hated but Giamatti dives into it with gusto.

Evans is fine as the romantic interest for Annie and Alicia Keyes has some charming moments as Annie's best friend. Art is a heart stealer as Grayer. He conveys a lot of emotion for a child so young.

"There is a lot of charm contained in "The Nanny Diaries." If it weren't so full of heart and humor it would be a disaster. In this instance the filmmakers mostly knew how to blend the drama and the comedy and also how to warm up the audience to the characters on screen. Overall it works and "The Nanny Diaries" ends up being a pleasant entertainment.

Kids never tire of stories about "Peter Pan" and now Disney has fashioned a new adventure titled "Peter Pan In Return To Never Land Pixie Powered Edition." In this new DVD the focus is on a girl named Jane. She is Wendy's daughter and Hook abducts her to try to force Peter Pan to give him back his treasure.

This is a totally new adventure and one that features Peter, Hook and Tinker Bell plus this new girl named Jane. There are deleted scenes plus a game to be played ab0out Never Land and the adventure. So get this DVD for your kids and watch their eyes light up.

Kids also love a new Pooh movie and Disney provides one of those too. It is titled "Pooh's Super Sleuth Christmas Movie" and it is the first Pooh holiday film in five years. In this film Pooh and his friends discover one of Santa's reindeers wandering in the woods. They panic as they believe Santa can't deliver presents without all of his reindeer present.

They set off on a journey to the North Pole but things prove difficult. In the ends they learn a lesson about Christmas and about friendship. It is a perfect Pooh film.

As a tie in with World AIDS Day, the DVD "Beat the Drum" is being released. This film is set in Africa and tells how one young boy (Junior Singo) affects the lives of many as he venture to Johannesburg in search of his uncle. 

This boy has been forced out of his village by a plague (AIDS) and he starts on his adventure with only a drum to keep him company. As he moves along to the beat of his drum he meets many people who are affected by his life and manner.

This is an important movie and the DVD contains information about the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation's work. AIDS is a global problem and any means by which information can be shared is important. Therefore "Beat the Drum" is a very important movie/DVD.

How do you handle a prodigy? That is the question asked in the new DVDS "Vitus." This film concerns a young pianist/composer who many consider to be the new Mozart. His family tries to determine what is right in the way of handling his career but ultimately the answer is what is right for the boy.

Prodigy Teo Geoghin plays the boy in the film and his abilities are marvelous to see. He is certainly convincing as the young man with a heart for music. Observing his struggles touches the hearts of all who see the film.

For those of you who like nothing better than a good old werewolf movie "Skinwalkers" is for you. This movie tells the story of a young boy who is approaching his thirteenth birthday. He doesn't know it but he is a half-breed and on this birthday his werewolf side will assert itself.

There are also some renegade bands of werewolves who see this boy as the promised one who will lead them all to glory. It is a violent look at the werewolf saga and fans of this genre will eat it up.

Finally there is "Colma: The Musical," a look at the problems of adolescence in a town where most of the people are dead. Some kids juggle school, work and the mall in a fashion with a few musical numbers thrown in to keep things moving.

This is a decidedly unusual DVD and one that might appeal to you. Mark it down - it is "Colma: The Musical."
 

 

 

 

 

©2007 Jackie K. Cooper

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