Quand les enfants s'en mêlent

I saw this movie first, when I was at a friend's house, in about 1999. I really liked it, but I forgot how good it was. Then, one day last week, I was flipping through channels, and when I got to Fox Family, I saw that it was on. It was near the beginning, so I watched it. Then, I saw lots of commercials for Au Pair 2. I couldn't wait to watch that. Last night, I watched the World Premire, and loved it. I hope that someday, there is another one.

I saw this film at Easter (bank holiday) and watched it only because I had nothing better to do. I loved it: OK the story is predictable and follows the usual family film, Cinderella format but the acting was fine, the kids were good (not overplayed) and it never felt "eighties". Basing the action in Europe was a great idea. Heidi Noelle Lenhart is outstanding, she lights up the film and is possibly even more gorgeous than Salma Hayek, so she should go a long way. Forget the family angle this is a movie for sad old fortysomething men with a few hours to spare fantasising about winning the lottery and buying thier own castle.

Gregory Harrison and Heidi Lenhart (Oliver Caldwell, Jenny Morgan) have that certain chemistry that makes this film enjoyable. Jenny needs a job so she takes a job as a nanny to the Caldwell residence. Oliver has two children that are little "monsters" that bring terror to adults. Oliver is engaged to Vivian Berger, a snobbish and cold-hearted woman. Vivian doesn't care for the kids and becomes jealous of Jenny. A bond of love develops between Jenny and the kids as the "terrors" become "matchmakers." Vivian has her own plans to derail the kids and Jenny which is successful. The plot is very predictable and yet you fall in love with Jenny and those "brats." Can Oliver see past the schemes of Vivian? Will Jenny and Oliver marry? A very entertaining film for the whole family.

Altogether a charming little piece, but it was pathetic to see that except a 20 second shot showing the obvious Eiffel Tower and the Arc de Triomphe, almost the whole movie was shot in Hungary's lovely Budapest and Szentendre - without giving any due credit (except the Hungarian signs all over the place). For all those that are "sucker for movies that take place in Paris" - sorry to disappoint you ;-)

Heidi Lenhart stars as Jenny, a young MBA graduate who doesn't have a lot of money so she starts looking for a job in order to one day be able to marry Charlie (Michael Woolson). She ends up at Caldwell Corp. after getting a lot of rejections and is very surprised to meet the great Oliver Caldwell (Gregory Harrison)in person, who is too busy to be with his kids and needs a nanny. She agrees to take the job and he takes the whole family to France along with his girlfriend and executive Vivian Berger. His kids, Alex and Katie hate spending time with nannies so they constantly find ways to get rid of Jenny, but with help from the Caldwell limo driver Nigel (John Rhys-Davies) she not only impresses the kids but Oliver as well. It was a great movie to watch it also reminded me so much of that series with Fran Drescher that was called The Nanny.