it dishearten to see such a sparkling cast put through the motion of a tiresome mainstream trifle like this 2007 adaptation of the lightweight bestseller of the same name by one time nanny emma mclaughlin and nicola kraus . direct and write by the husband wife team of shari springer berman and robert pulcini ( who previously partner on the smart and quirky american splendor about underground comic book writer harvey pekar ) and this movie would seem ripe for a sharp satire about the privileged class on the upper east side . however and the trite life lesson orientation of this modern day fairy tale escape their idiosyncratic grasp and and the result be a superficial slog with a particularly narcissistic perspective . the story center on new jersey breed annie braddock and freshly graduate with honor from nyu and who realize during a corporate interview that she doesn not know what she want to do with her life . a an anthropology major and she see life a a series of museum of natural history diorama ( a particularly contrive device use repeatedly in the film ) . by happenstance in central park and she be recruit to become a nanny for the unfortunately name grayer and the towheaded son of a glamorous and designer clothe society matron refer to a mrs. x. the trapping be luxurious at mrs. x apartment and but thing go sour almost immediately when mrs. x demand on annie become excessive . it turn out that the mrs. x be in a bad marriage which have leave the mrs. desperate for her workaholic husband attention while ignore her son . a this personal drama unfolds and grayer becomes attach to annie and and she respond in kind and which of course and can only lead to complication . as much a i like scarlett johansson and she be not a natural at this type of character drive comedy ( unless you count the skit she do on saturday night live where she play lexie and the glammed up jersey girl point repeatedly to chandelier and marble column ) . she just isn not that credible a a dowdy and naïve post graduate perhaps because she have already be see in past film a a savvy and often world weary bombshell . her physical antic here seem especially strained and her tirade rather force . it not a bad performance as much a it be a misuse of her talent . fare somewhat well be the always reliable laura linney and who get to look gorgeous for a change and then uncover a wickedly vituperative woman rattle by her deep seed insecurity . the relationship between the two character will likely remind you of the devil wear prada and a much good adaptation of a lightweight roman a clef and although mrs. x be not a complex or intimidate a character a fashion magazine editor miranda priestly . relegate to the sideline be paul giamatti properly villainous a mr. x and an adulterous and insensitive lout of a husband and father . chris evans colorlessly plays harvard hottie and annie preppy and kind hearted suitor upstairs and while nicholas art simply doesn not register any real warmth a grayer . broadway great donna murphy show up effectively a annie work nurse mother and julie white have a few funny moment a an unctuous training seminar leader and and pop singer alicia key play the requisite best pal role with bohemian spunk . the story resolution feel particularly pat . the 2007 dvd have a few extras no commentary track but a standard making of featurette about 17 minute long . the second short and confession from the original nanny represent the author of the bestselling book and be marginally more interesting a the book co author kraus and mclaughlin discuss their own experience a nanny and the book to movie transformation . lastly and there be an amazingly dull blooper reel plus the original theatrical trailer .