Au Pair (1999)

Touches You

To me, this movie is perfection.

The movie's neither hopeful in contrived ways, nor hopeless in different contrived ways. Somehow it manages to be wonderful

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This film portrays itself as a modern day 'Mary Poppins,' a rags to riches love story about a shy girl whose intelligence wins her prince charming and conquers over the snobby rich witches.Unfortunately 'Au Pair' I and II are the exact opposite of what they promise. I cannot find a single redeeming reason why any audience young or old would find this film series entertaining on any level.The plot: This is the type of film where the audience has already figured out the entire storyline by the opening credits and must endure the motions waiting for the characters to catch up.Heidi Lenhart stars as a nerdy business school graduate whose so preoccupied with money that she'd rather follow her business plan of working during to summer than going with her fiancé to Europe.Lenhart isn't nails on a chalkboard but there's nothing remotely charming about her, nor does her character grow in any way. She is actually that which she claims to detest, a money obsessed snob. She ends the film no different.The most annoying thing about her character is the typical Hollywood fiction of a recent business school graduate knowing more about business than those characters with 20+ years of real world experience. Somehow these characters always try too hard to immediately begin managing multinational corporations right from the start rather than working their way up.Lenhart's accepts a position working under a billionaire businessman in Europe. He's also money obsessed and his character never grows. Maybe this is why they fall in love. But is that really a love story anyone wants to see. I'm sure Adolf and Eva also had a lot in common.For two people supposed to be so detail orientated somehow he's actually hired her to be his motherless children's au pair. Ha ha ha. What a funny mix up.The two Arian uber children a cute but their characters have no real active roll in this film what so ever. They don't do anything at all. They don't misbehave or cause trouble. They're just around.In conclusion, if you want to see a love story between two stone cold money obsessed snobs this is the film for you. If you want family film romance and comedy look elsewhere.

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 ;-)

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.

Great Movie with a sincere message for those parent's that need to make time to spend with their children. It also shows that life can't be always planned, but rather made up along the way! The comedy was great! This movie will be under-looked by many for the lack of promotion, but if you have a chance to watch it! Do it, for you won't be disappointed!