I had a night by myself recently and decided to watch this movie. As a Marvel Universe fan, I love Scarlett and Chris and I thought the trailer was great, so I checked out the movie on Netflix. I'm really happy I did.While it's nothing overly special, The Nanny Diaries is a cute movie that I think is well cast. Scarlett plays an endearing college grad named Annie who gets a large helping of reality when she becomes a nanny to a young boy named Grayer. At first the kid annoyed me, but as Grayer's neglected life was revealed, I began to see a boy who simply wanted to be a kid and have fun. Annie and Grayer develop an adorable and believable relationship as the movie progresses, and as the movie comes to I close, I wanted Annie to take Grayer and raise him herself. They were too sweet together.Harvard Hottie (Chris Evans) and Annie's relationship is also cute, with understandable bumps as Evans's character becomes exasperated with Annie's dedication to Grayer and the family. Their chemistry is natural and reflects their friendship outside of work.Mr. X was a good "villan," and I loved to hate his selfish character. His treatment of his son and wife angered me to no end, and the ending of the movie was extremely satisfying to me. Mrs. X was infuriating at the beginning, but as the movie showed her more vulnerable and sad side, I began to feel for her and empathize with her treatment by her husband.Overall, it was a simple, cute movie to pass the night home alone, and I will probably watch it again in the future.

On the one hand, "The Nanny Diaries" shows how the working-class nanny (Scarlett Johansson) goes through a change in life. But more important is that she sees what a screwed up life her employers have. Even though the movie is targeted at a younger audience, it's clear that these rich New Yorkers have a terrible marriage and barely any relationship with their son (just like the main character in "Bonfire of the Vanities"). This is the polar opposite of the sorts of movies that Woody Allen made in the 1990s, in which he fetishized the lives of these messed up people ("Everyone Says I Love You" was by far his worst movie ever).So, while this movie isn't any sort of masterpiece, it's still fun.

Like chamomile tea, the Nanny Diaries is fragrant, has a delicate almost bland taste, is not bad at all, but after a while is totally forgotten. It is not going to harm you, but is not going to be a memorable experience either.For a movie that was supposed to be a comedy, this one is missing a few laughters. There are a few funny moments, but for the most part it is a light drama.This is a typical chick-flick for a cold rainy day. It is not a kid's movie, by the way...

New Jersey college grad goes to New York City to conquer the business world, mangles one job interview and ends up on the Upper East Side working as a nanny (seen as a professional dead-end). Her boss is a high-strung society wife whose husband cheats on her and whose bratty child represents a trophy that needs to be polished. Emma McLaughlin's and Nicola Kraus' bestseller has been unfortunately transformed into a movie blueprint on how not to adapt a successful novel to the screen. With one foot in reality and the other in "Legally Blonde"-land, the film doesn't know what tone to aim for, and the talented cast is left clueless. The writing-directing team of Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini fails to shape the picture comedically, so that many of the characters come off as repugnant. Distressingly routine and obvious despite a glossy production, with preciously-placed pop songs posted on the soundtrack like highway signs. *1/2 from ****