THE NANNY DIARIES
A clever, heartfelt comedy for discerning teens and adults.
Should You Watch It?
Yes, if you are looking for a smart, emotionally engaging comedy with something worthwhile to say. The Nanny Diaries balances comedy, pathos, wit, drama, and charm while asking parents to take time to care for and know their children. It also shows that money cannot buy happiness or love.
The movie’s strongest message is that children are our most precious resource. Its central adults often fail badly, but the film encourages viewers to love and support the people around them, especially family members. The cost is a PG-13 content profile, including 17 obscenities, three strong profanities, mature relationship themes, and scenes involving lying.
This is a good choice for teenagers and adults who can exercise discernment. For younger children, choose something else.
The Story
NO SPOILERS — WE KEEP THE SURPRISESAnnie Braddock is a New Jersey college graduate with a finance degree and a passion for anthropology. Unsure who she is or what she wants, Annie accepts a nanny job for a wealthy family on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
She treats the experience as an anthropological field study, calling her employers Mr. and Mrs. X. But as Annie grows attached to their young son, she becomes entangled in the struggles of a household shaped by wealth, neglect, marriage problems, and competing ideas about love and success.
Is It Any Good?
Four stars means this is a thoroughly successful entertainment. The Nanny Diaries has the right balance of comedy, pathos, wit, drama, and charm. Its actors inhabit their characters so convincingly that they seem like real people you could meet on the street.
The film also succeeds emotionally. It can make you laugh, cry, and think while presenting its themes with warmth and intelligence. Its few drawbacks are the foul language, lying, and negative parental figures, but the primary messages are morally uplifting.
The Worldview
The film presents a strong moral worldview overall, with one positive reference to God. It exalts love, family support, parental responsibility, and the value of children. It argues that parents should take time to care for and know their children, and that wealth cannot provide happiness or love.
The story also includes some feminist elements and politically correct content involving wealthy upper-class Manhattan snobs. Its view of most men and most rich people is negative, although a kind, handsome rich young man provides some balance. The film portrays adultery, bullying, neglect, and lying as serious failures rather than virtues. Annie’s dishonesty toward her mother is also treated as part of her struggle to pursue her own calling.
The film’s central concern is the proper care of children. Scripture likewise teaches, “Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD” (Psalm 127:3).
The Content Guide
The specifics — spoilers included by nature — so you can judge for your own family.
Content Summary
Strong moral worldview overall with one positive reference to God, some feminist elements and some politically correct content about rich upper class snobs in Manhattan; 17 obscenities (including one “f” word), three strong profanities, 11 light profanities, sick boy vomits, and dog defecates on carpet; light comic violence such as pratfalls and nannies chase children, plus woman saves child from being run down by motorized scooter; implied fornication when couple kisses passionately, they enter man’s apartment and they shut the door, plus married man passionately kisses secretary and makes a pass at his son’s nanny; upper male nudity and woman panties are shown; alcohol use; no smoking; and, lying, nanny ruins dinner so she lets her young charge eat peanut butter and jelly concoction from jar and asks boy not to tell his mother, bad parental role models balanced slightly by a couple good parental role models, nanny cameras spy on nanny, philandering married man bullies his wife, woman bullies her nanny, people are rude, man calls his mother a name, and parents neglect child.
Talk About It
Questions for the drive home, the dinner table, or the youth group.
Annie discovers that children need more than money and possessions. What does faithful, loving care look like in your family?
Psalm 127:3 · 1 Thessalonians 2:7–8The film shows adults neglecting their responsibilities toward a child. What does Scripture ask parents and other adults to provide for children?
Ephesians 6:4 · Mark 10:13–16Annie lies to her mother while trying to pursue her own calling. When can following a dream become an excuse for dishonesty?
Ephesians 4:25 · Proverbs 12:22The story portrays marriage damaged by selfishness and unfaithfulness. What do love and faithfulness require from a husband and wife?
Ephesians 5:25 · Hebrews 13:4The Final Word
Funny, moving, and morally thoughtful, The Nanny Diaries takes children and family seriously. Its language and mature themes call for discernment, but teenagers and adults can find much to discuss and appreciate. For younger children, choose our. WORTH THE TRIP — AGES 13 AND UP
