Plot: What’s it about?
Sean Armstrong (Hulk Hogan) is a former professional wrestler who has hung up his tights, opting to work as a bodyguard instead. His imposing physical presence and mean temperament make him a natural for the field, but for some reason, work is on the slow side, which is why he leaps when a job offer surfaces. His manager Burt (Sherman Hemsley) informs him of a position that is open, one that involves a high level, top secret scientist and as such, Armstrong signs on and never looks back. But the position wasn’t to guard the scientist himself, instead it was to protect his young children, who happen to despise supervision. Soon enough, Armstrong finds himself in what amounts to a glorified nanny position, with the kids making his life as miserable as possible, no matter what that takes. But soon, the situation turns serious when the threat of a villain is evident, though in order to overcome, the kids and Armstrong will have to team up…
Just as I said in my review of Suburban Commando, this movie is not good in the usual sense, but it is harmless and offers an enjoyable experience. I don’t like this movie as much as Suburban Commando, as star Hulk Hogan is a little too lighthearted here, but Mr. Nanny has some moments and is still worth a look. Of course, Hogan always takes a lighter approach in his family film efforts, but he usually retains more of his over the top toughness, which is often replaced here by zaniness and slapstick antics. But that offers some laughs too, since it is rather humorous to see Hogan clown around, playing second fiddle to some kids. The jokes here remain predictable, but are well carried out, as Hogan and the others manage well enough, even when the audience sees the gag from a mile in the distance. But New Line has issued a solid disc in terms of presentation and while extras are thin, the price is very low and more than reasonable. I recommend this to fans of Hogan, as well as those in search of light, harmless family aimed material.
As we all know, Hulk Hogan revolutionized professional wrestling and became a true icon, but when he tried his hand in cinema, the results were less than impressive. He has had a couple of memorable roles however, including a line of mildly successful family aimed pictures, such as this one, Mr. Nanny. Of course, critics lambasted this one like they did the others, but it found a small audience, so it wasn’t a total loss. Hogan is able to play his role well, though it is by no means a tough one and was obviously created for him to step into. Even so, his effort here is solid for the realm of family cinema and given his previous works, I am surprised he is as good as he is here, to be honest. But kids and fans of his wrestling career should enjoy his work here, as he is pretty much just plays Hulk Hogan, with some small alterations. Other films with Hogan include Rocky II, Suburban Commando, No Holds Barred, and Shadow Warriors. The cast also includes Sherman Hemsley (Screwed, Tv’s The Jeffersons), Austin Pendleton (Short Circuit, My Cousin Vinny), and Robert Gorman (Rookie of the Year, Leprechaun).
Video: How does it look?
Mr. Nanny is presented in a 1.85:1 anamorphic widescreen transfer, with a full frame edition also included on this dual layered disc. A very nice visual effort here from New Line, though the material’s bland approach leaves all the hard work somewhat wasted. But as far as the material goes, this is about as good as it can look DVD, with a colorful, clean, and very sharp appearance, terrific work indeed. The colors have a bright texture, with no signs of smears or such, while flesh tones remain natural throughout. I saw no problems with contrast either, as black levels were pitch perfect and never wavered in the least. Another great looking effort from New Line, who continues to be at the forefront of visual excellence.
Audio: How does it sound?
The included Dolby Digital 5.1 track is more than solid, but don’t expect much beyond the basics here. The front channels are always active, with good separation and movement, including of course, crisp & clean dialogue at all times. I found the sound effects to be well presented, though they don’t have quite the impact I had expected at times. As far as surround use, you won’t find much here outside of the musical soundtrack and a few assorted background elements, but don’t worry, the lack of surround presence isn’t missed much. This disc also includes a 2.0 surround option, as well as English subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
This disc includes the film’s theatrical trailer.
