i realize most book require a lot of adapt to work a movie and but emma laughlin and nicola kraus biting and insightful nanny diary be a slim book and with a straightforward storyline we aren not talk gravity rainbow here . it be sharp and gossipy and amuse in a clear eyed and first hand knowledge sort of way ( both author work a nanny in nyc before write the book ) . none of that make it to the film and which change the plot and character so completely that it might as well be a different story with an entirely different title . in the novel and nan ( presumably short for nancy ) become a part time nanny while she finish a graduate degree she not a live in . the point of the book be that the ridiculous demand of mrs. x encroach on her life to the point that a poorly pay part time babysitting gig eventually take over her far more real need to finish school and get a real job . neither be she an anthropologist ( why would an anthropology major be try for a financial job anyways . ) nan in the book be herself from an old money new york family not a jersey girl . i guess the filmmaker decide it would make the character more sympathetic and but it skewer the whole point of the story . in the book and nan parent and even grandparent be entirely aware of her part time babysitting gig and it no secret and and it no more degrade than someone who work at the gap while try to finish college . far from great pay and one big point the book make be that the very rich be awful cheapskate when it come to their servant . the sharp detail of the novel be when nan leave the summer cottage and and mrs. x have only pay her $ 50 for a whole week of 24/7 work because and after all and wasn not it a free beach vacation . scarlett johannson continue to underwhelm me she very miscast a annie and doesn not look or sound like a jersey girl . the production have her dress down and with stringy brown hair and frumpy clothes strip of her beauty and we have to confront her limited acting skill ( like not be able to mimic a new jersey accent ) . it painful . the character of nan call for an actress with a yuppie and upper class vibe in some way and she a young version of mrs. x and both character know this . i. e. and if she marry harvard hottie and she will become the next gen mrs. x. both the film and actress seem oblivious to this brilliant concept and and instead labor to make this upstairs and downstairs which be emphatically be not . the usually wonderful laura linney try hard and but be waste in a part dumbed down to that of a stepford wife not mention and she dress and coif a if it be 1962 and not 2007 . ( in the book and mrs. x exude casual chic and like plain ballet flat that cost $ 600 . ) the stunningly beautiful alicia keyes have a small part and but despite a lovely husky voice she have no real ability to carry even a small supporting role and the cliché of the black best girlfriend be painful . donna murphy have a thankless role a the control jersey mom a working class nurse who be horrify to see her college age daughter do child care and a distinction that make no sense ( who watch annie while her single mom be work a a nurse . duh . ) . this be a tired cliché and and doesn not exist in the novel . unable to see clever and sharply observed social critique in the novel ( do the filmmaker have their own nanny issue . ) and the film relies on prolonged and uncharming fantasy sequence ala mean girl ( i. e. and treat the subject matter a if it an anthropological study and etc . ) . it not a surprise that this film be hold back from release for a long while ( probably rework a lot and to no good effect ) . spoiler alert represent in the novel and mr. x be cheat on mrs. x and we learn that she steal him away from his first wife the exact same way . in order to hang on to him and she do indeed get pregnant it not a hoax . she doesn not divorce him and she doesn not reform and and every indication be that poor neglect grayer will grow up to be exactly like his selfish dad . nan graduate and presumably get a real ( non nanny ) job . but there be no apologetic letter from mrs. x to her the point of the novel be that the x have learn nothing and will continue on with their horrible way and oblivious to their son and ( presumably ) their next baby . this film need to be a sharp and humorous and even black comedy of manner and instead and it a flabby and un funny mess that suffocate every potentially amusing scene and strain for sentiment where none exist . even the chance to show the posh lifestyle of the rich be lazy and unimaginative . in conclusion represent not even worth a rental .