I probably shouldn’t say this, because it’s brought us a butt-load of traffic, but I’m kind of over all this Cloverfield mayhem. I’m all for mystery and anticipation, but the one thing that’s been missing from the site this past week is a sense of humor.

Which is why I was delighted to see that the first full trailer for Fred Claus has just hit the internet. If there’s one person who can give me a much needed kick in the funny bone, it’s Vince Vaughn. Remember EdTV? Well my dream would be VinceTV. I swear I could watch this guy fold his laundry and be totally entertained.

Fred Claus looks like a funny film, but I am minorly concerned about one thing: does Vince Vaughn really belong in what is, essentially, a “family film?” Fortunately, there are a lot of other bright spots to ease my worries. For one, this film is directed by David Dobkin, the same guy who directed Wedding Crashers. Secondly, Paul Giamatti plays Santa Claus. And most importantly, it is still Vince Vaughn. And if I can enjoy watching Vince fold his laundry, I’m sure I’ll enjoy watching him play around with some midgets (sorry, elves).

If you haven’t guessed yet, Fred Claus is definitely a SEE IT for me. If I have to be inundated with Christmas movies again this year, I’d much rather see Vince Vaughn and Paul Giamatti take a stab at it than have to sit through Tim Allen doing another sequel of The Santa Claus.

Fred Claus is not yet rated and opens on Christmas. (Official Site)

In The Nanny Diaries, Scarlett Johansson plays Nanny, a character eager to begin her life as a nanny to a wealthy Manhattan family, the Xs, played by Laura Linney (who I’m not sure is mean enough for the role of Mrs. X) and Paul Giamatti (who is completely absent from the trailer). She gets all the luxuries of playing house on the Upper East Side, without the responsibility of having to pay for the lifestyle. It’s all very The Devil Wears Prada meets Mary Poppins (minus the singing chimneysweeps). What’s not to love?

Well, a lot, apparently. The parents of her young charge are never around, she is constantly humiliated in front of the could-he-be-any-cuter boy who lives in the same building, Mrs. X tells her to her face that she isn’t good enough for said boy, and she is being spied on through a nanny-cam installed in a teddy bear. What is Nanny to do? She can’t quit, or so she says, for she has grown to love the little boy she cares for and she won’t leave him with parents who seem to have forgotten he even exists.

The Nanny Diaries is based on the 2002 best-selling novel of the same name. I have read the novel, so it’s impossible for me to watch this trailer and not make comparisons to the book. The book was written as a comedy-drama that often focuses on how absentee parents can affect a child’s development. The film, on the other hand, is being billed as strictly a comedy. Oh, those wacky rich folks! They’re just so busy being fabulous that Nanny gets into all sorts of wacky hijinx while caring for their son. But wait…are neglectful parents something to laugh at? Is a twenty-something girl unwittingly thrust into the role of “mother” really that funny?

Since I love to see films based on books I’ve read and play the compare/contrast game, I’ll see this one, but I’ll wait to RENT IT with my boyfriend (you may know him as Netflix).

The Nanny Diaries is rated PG-13 and opens on April 20. (Official Site)

UPDATE: The new release date for The Nanny Diaries is September 7, 2007.

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