The Nanny Diaries

"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..."

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

"The movie itself is sort of bland and obvious and comfortable..."

"Although Johansson has a knack for nailing most roles, the angry yet fun-loving nanny doesn't quite work for her..."

"The supporting players do a serviceable job in their roles, but no amount of Oscar-nominee nuance from Giamatti or Linney can salvage what amounts to a candy-striped trifle for post-collegiate slacker existentialists..."

"It is at least fun watching Giamatti (Sideways) relishing this unusual role for him as a wealthy, powerful, adulterous husband, but at the end of the day this film feels like a terrible waste of talent..."

"The fact is there's a lot of talent going to waste in this humdrum chick flick. And the script could have done with a lot more comedy and far less schmaltz. Fans of the book are bound to be disappointed by all the movie-cliche add-ons. The result is a bland, predictably ordinary story, which you've seen many times before..."