The Nanny DiariesMovie Reviews

Poster art for "The Nanny Diaries."

Gifts + Promos

The Vow Free Gift

Buy tickets & receive a FREE 3-Month Love Forecast from Astrology.com!

Fandango Bucks

Send your sweetheart the gift of movies this Valentine’s Day!

Journey Sweeps

Enter for a chance to win a trip for 2 to Nicaragua!

Interactive Oscar Ballot

Who's taking home the Oscar? Cast your vote & challenge your friends on Facebook!

Need Help?
So-so
Avg. Critic Score: 46 out of 100 Mixed or average reviews Metascore® based on all critic reviews
Information for Parents:
13 Iffy for 13+
Read Common Sense Media review

Critic scores range from 0 to 100, with higher scores indicating more favorable reviews.

  • 63
    Chicago Sun-Times | Roger Ebert

    The movie itself is sort of bland and obvious and comfortable. Read full review

  • 50
    Variety |

    Rarely rises above standard sitcom fare. Read full review

  • 50
    Washington Post | Stephen Hunter

    Linney -- this has happened too much to her -- is once again the best thing in a movie that at most achieves a certain mediocrity. Read full review

  • 50
    The Hollywood Reporter | Kirk Honeycutt

    The comedy has several inspired moments and a genuine flair for the satiric, but overall the film leaves you cold. Read full review

  • 50
    The New York Times | Stephen Holden

    Because The Nanny Diaries is essentially a two-character story whose supporting players are wooden props, it would help if the actors playing the two were evenly matched. But Ms. Johansson's Annie, who narrates the movie in a glum, plodding voice, is a leaden screen presence, devoid of charm and humor. Read full review

  • 50
    USA Today | Claudia Puig

    The very rich are different from you and me. And much worse. That's basically the message of the disappointingly banal Nanny Diaries, a film that is even more lightweight and clichd than the fluff that was the best-selling book. Read full review

  • 50
    Los Angeles Times | Carina Chocano

    The social bite of the popular novel fades into a generic chick flick. Read full review

  • 42
    Entertainment Weekly | Owen Gleiberman

    For a light comedy, The Nanny Diaries turns out to have an off-putting theme. It glorifies the romance of slumming. Read full review

  • 30
    Wall Street Journal |

    So tightly constructed of clichs, stereotypes and chick-lit tropes that it's inert; no fresh air can blow in. Read full review

  • 25
    San Francisco Chronicle | Mick LaSalle

    There's something painful about watching Scarlett Johansson, who looks as if she never had an indecisive moment in her life, struggle to seem ineffectual. Read full review

View more reviews for The Nanny Diaries on Metacritic

Information for Parents
Common Sense Media says Iffy for 13+ Where's Mary Poppins when you need her?
What Parents Need to Know Parents need to know that although teens might love Scarlett Johansson, this movie is about nannies and employee/employer relations -- hardly a big topic of interest for the average 13 year old. Many parents are presented as overprivileged, immature prima donnas. The strain between the central "bad" parent (an upper-class New Yorker) and her less-upper-crust nanny leads to some sad, tense scenes featuring a young boy, as well as some frank discussion of parenting goals and strategies. The film also includes mild sexual imagery (cleavage, kissing, a couple of uncomfortable groping scenes) and drinking (mostly social, though at one point Annie deliberately gets drunk). Language includes one use of "f--k" in anger, plus "s--t," "hell," and the other usual suspects.
  • Families can talk about the movie's main conflict: Why does Annie think Mrs. X is a bad parent? Do you agree with her? Why or why not? What makes someone a "good" or "bad" mom or dad? Is it different in real life than it is in movies and on TV shows? How? Do you think Mrs. X thinks she's a good mom? What is Annie's role in the X family? How does she see herself compared to how the Xs see her?
The good stuff
  • message true0 Positive messages: Family members lie to one another, and class differences lead to tension and judgment. The Xs aren't exactly involved, emotionally connected parents.
What to watch for
  • violence false0 Violence: A little boy kicks his new nanny in the shins; some other pratfall-type moments.
  • sex false3 Sex: The movie's opening fantasy includes a museum diorama of a pole dancer, Annie's thong is visible when Grayer pulls down her pants, and her cleavage is highly visible when she wears a Betsy Ross costume for the Fourth of July. Mrs. X shows Annie a sexy slip. Rowdy college boys say that dating a nanny is "so porno!" Some kissing in a hallway, followed by a crashing sound from behind a closed door -- insinuating a passionate embrace. Mr. X is seen by his son in mid-fondle with his coworker; the older man later makes a grab at Annie's bottom.
  • language false3 Language: At least one use of "f--k," plus several instances each of "hell," "s--t," and "damn," as well as one "dumb ass" and one "bastard."
  • consumerism false3 Consumerism: Frequent mentions or shots of brand names and corporations, including Goldman Sachs, Dior, Louis Vuitton, Bergdorff's, Chanel, Manolo Blahnik, Tiffany, SpongeBob SquarePants, Converse All-Stars, Lay's potato chips, Cheerios, Ralph Lauren polo shirt.
  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3 Drinking, drugs and smoking: An anonymous nanny smokes a cigarette; some social drinking of wine, champagne, and beer. In one scene Annie deliberately gets drunk (on wine).
An independent nonprofit dedicated to providing families the information they need to help kids thrive in a world of media and technology. © Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

Looking for more reviews? Movies.com Critics Say:

Dave White

2.5

Dave White Profile See Dave White's Profile

… needs to be funnier and not so warm and huggy. Read full review See Dave White's on MOVIENAME on Movies.com

Read more movie reviews at Movies.com

The Nanny Diaries Movie Ratings + Reviews

Fans say

So-so 4,496 fan reviews

Critics say

So-so See all critic reviews

Facebook Movie Fans

Fan Fandango on Facebook