The Nanny (aka Mental) – A Crazy Ride!

I gotta confess, mate, when I pressed play on “The Nanny,” I wasn’t sure what I was gettin’ into. I mean, it’s got some mad talent with Toni Collette leading the charge, but I’d seen such mixed things, I was like a moose caught in headlights! It’s directed by P.J. Hogan, who, let’s be honest, knows a thing or two about zaniness from “Muriel’s Wedding.”

So, here’s the scoop: the story’s about this unpredictable nanny hired by a dad to watch over his five very, ehm, energetic daughters while their mum’s takin’ a break at the mental hospital. Yep, it sounds bonkers, and trust me, it is. Collette is spot-on as this whirlwind nanny, giving a performance like she’d downed a few extra cups of coffee—or maybe shots of akvavit—before every scene.

You know, watchin’ the madness unfold reminded me of that time we had a substitute teacher in Västerås who couldn’t quite handle our rowdy class. She tried to teach math, but instead we all ended up doing impromptu theatre with her! Just like the film portrays, sometimes the unexpected chaos leads to new insights and bonds.

Now, let’s chinwag about the themes here. It’s packed with all this dynamism about family, mental health, and just acceptin’ people as they are, imperfections and all. It made my lil’ Swedish heart appreciate the quirkiness of being human even more.

But… there were moments, the film slightly went, you know, overboard for me. Like when you’ve had too much sill before Midsummer’s Eve. Some scenes felt stretched—like they were tryin’ too hard to be funny or heartwarming.

Still, beggars can’t be choosers. This wild ride offers loads of laughter with a side of sincere warmth. Grab some kanelbullar, kick back, and enjoy the craziness!

Check the trailer below