Shari Springer Berman and Robert Pulcini's "The Nanny Diaries"

"The Nanny Diaries." The critics rave:

"The Funniest Film of the Year!"
-Jack Egan, BTL News

"The Freshest, Funniest, Most Purely Enjoyable Movie of the Season!"
-Milan Paurich, ABC-TV

"The Intelligent Comedy You've Been Waiting For!"Roger Friedman, foxnews.com

Huh? It's supposed to be a comedy?

On the other hand, in his review in The New York Times, Stephen Holden says, "The storytelling is rushed and sloppy." Of the film's star, Scarlette Johansson, Holden comments, rather astutely, "Ms. Johansson’s Annie, who narrates the movie in a glum, plodding voice, is a leaden screen presence, devoid of charm and humor. With her heavy-lidded eyes and plump lips, Ms. Johansson may smolder invitingly in certain roles, but 'The Nanny Diaries' is the latest in a string of films that suggest that this somnolent actress confuses sullen attitudinizing with acting."

Meanwhile, over at The Philadelphia Inquirer, Steven Rea wastes no time getting to the heart of the matter. "It's really a painful reminder of everything the film adaptation of 'The Devil Wears Prada' is, and 'The Nanny Diaries' is not."

Rea's headline writer is even more succinct:

"For 'Nanny Diaries,' the word is 'dull'"

How's that for a money quote?

(Artwork: Scarlett Johansson and Nicholas Reese Art in "The Nanny Diaries," and critics Stephen Holden of The New York Times and Steven Rea of The Philadelphia Inquirer.)

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