Excellent, a Must See

Clever and entertaining enough to recommend even to members of the 1%

The film makes a home in your brain and the only cure is to see it again.

Great story, amazing characters, superb action, enthralling cinematography. Yes, this is something I am glad I spent money on.

Scarlett Johansson doesn't pop up in this sort of light comedy/romantic comedy genre much, so this is a rare occasion to see her display just how funny she can be.This isn't the best film in the world, it doesn't try to be. What it is though is a decent enough comedy, with some nice laughs along the way.It's a surprise to see that Johansson is so good at comedy and is well supported by Laura Linney in her role.If you're looking for an easy going comedy then this one has a lot going for it.

Annie Braddock (Scarlett Johansson) is a recent college graduate who can't settle on what to do except she wants to be in New York. When she rescues a kid from getting run over, the Jersey girl gets quickly snapped up by the boy's Upper East Side mother Mrs X (Laura Linney). At first the boy is a brat, but soon he's clinging to Annie. The mother is a control freak. The father (Paul Giamatti) is an absentee cheater. And the upstairs neighbor Harvard Hottie (Chris Evans) wouldn't take no for an answer.The whole idea of no names is very distracting. It's a terrible gimmick that keeps bothering me every time these stupid no-names names pop up. The sad thing is that there is probably a touching story underneath this. But the gimmick constantly keeps the audience at an arm's length. Scarlett is an absolute charmer. She salvages something from this movie.

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 ****

This somewhat lightweight comedy about a college grad roped into being a nanny by chance features Scarlett Johansson in the title role. Scarlett is not really known for comedic acting, and that does show. However, this actress is capable of captivating her audience even when running on less than all cylinders. Laura Linney again teams up with Paul Giamatti (as in John Adams), this time as the dysfunctional parents of a five year old boy. Both are excellent in their less than lovable roles. Alicia Keyes is good as Scarlett's well grounded pal.The story has been seen before and in many, many versions. So, the makers did a few things here to separate it from the pack. We have an entertaining narration in the form of an application to anthropological graduate school, framed exhibits of cultures that include Upper East Side snobs, flying scenes a la Mary Poppins, and characters talking inter-shot.Despite what some reviewers here seem to think, the naming of the characters as Mr. and Mrs. X is merely a device of the application-style of the narration and is not to be taken literally, any more than the love interest is truly named Harvard Hottie.All in all, the movie provides some good escapist entertainment, touching and amusing, but without belly laughs. Get a grip, folks, its a light comedy after all, and one worth viewing.