The Nanny Express

7.9 stars.

There is something particularly sweet about the story of a nanny, who grows fond of a father and his two children. That, being the only description of this film, you might think this is the standard narrative that you've seen 100 times. But you would be dead wrong. This nanny story is without a doubt much more enriching and better than most. At least it's one that I won't soon forget. There are a lot of endearing moments, many tears were shed. These children lost their mother three years ago in a car accident. The children have been harassing and tormenting all the nannies that the father has hired over the years, and she is going through the same hell. But this nanny is different. She understands what the children are experiencing, she gets it. The rest of the story is about how this sweet woman softens their hearts. The daughter is very bitter and is able to push the nanny beyond her limits. Would you expect any less from a 15-year-old? This is a must see for the whole family at least once every five years.

This wasn't the typical cheesy romance. Seemed quite realistic with the daughter not liking a possible girlfriend of her widowed father. Some pranks the children played made me laugh. However, there are a couple of parts that will have you reaching for the Kleenex .... I know it did me. Will it end the typical "happily ever after" ? Make some popcorn, get the Kleenex and enjoy.

The Nanny Express is a refreshing but familiar family dramedy. It shows Vanessa Marcil in a way one is not used to seeing her act. She is dressed down, nerdy and if you can believe it...very likable. Playing an all around do-gooder suits her well. She works hard for these kids and her ill father. Her time is stretched but she finds time to tutor underprivileged children at her church. You end up liking her character of Kate very much and you want all good things for her. The rest of the cast works well together and is able to come together to make this film really work. If you're looking for a feel good entertaining movie... this is it! 8/10

Remember how the Von Trapp children got rid of a succession of governesses until Fraulein Maria showed up and captured their hearts as well as their widowed father. We have basically the same outline in this marvelous film.

A woman with a tragic past, an ailing father and a mother already dead, becomes a nanny to two of the most obnoxious children imaginable. They have harassed previous nannies out but she turns the table on them and immediately wins the love and respect of the young son. Problem is that she can't get to first base with the 15 year old daughter. The latter is a conniving teenage stinker. When she sees that her father is falling for the nanny, she tries to get her dance instructor interested in her widowed father.

This is also a story of human faith and perseverance. It works remarkably well with an outstanding cast.

What can I say; this is a typical Hallmark movie. It it's sugar sweet and "suitable for the whole family". However when I say it is a typical Hallmark movie, this is also the weak part of the movie. As with most Hallmark movies, people fall in love after meeting twice, the characters in the movie are almost flawless (for example: the main character: does charity work, watches after her sick father and works full time) and the range of emotions/desires is, shall we say "limited". Also being an American Hallmark film, the church is mentioned frequently and the main character is religious.

In such movies, every character is a stereotype with matching state of mind (sad, angry, etc) and things/situations that would make the viewer think or truly care for the characters are not included in the movie as it is "suitable for the whole family". The movie is predictable and cliché. Not even good actors such as Vanessa Marcil or Dean Stockwell can save this movie in my view without a serious change of the script: something it will never get.

Do not get me wrong: I love movies to be cliché and predictable to a certain point. At the end of the movie I want the main character to gain his or her love interest, have a bright looking future and the "bully/bad guy" to be punished or forgotten. But Hallmark takes this concept to a whole other level. It does not feature the real world but the world we would like it to be. And the way the nanny is winning over the children, just too easy to be believable. All nice, easy and neat. And that makes it impossible to relate to.

If you like your movies to have a shred of realism (even the average romantic comedy has more realism than the average Hallmark movie) this film is not for you as it is not a movie for me. However, if you are a typical American conservative and like your movies to be bright and devoid of anything controversial this is a movie for you. And in that category this is one of the better ones