'The Manny' Review: Michael Evans Behling and Joanne Jansen's stellar acts shine in Lifetime's thriller drama film
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'The Manny' premieres on Lifetime on May 9, 2024. 'The Manny' which was originally released in 2022 on Tubi is directed by Doug Campbell. It features Michael Evans Behling, Joanne Jansen, Ashton Ayres, and Hailey Summer in lead roles
The thriller drama follows the life of a male nanny named Morgan (Michael Evans Behling) who is hired by Lani(Joanne Jansen) to take care of her son Jaylen (Ashton Ayres). Morgan who is the perfect nanny is hiding some secrets about his past and identity. As the story develops, we learn about the dark real identity of Morgan and Lani resorting to absolute measures to stop him.
The film is intimately shot and the dynamics between the three central characters move the film forward. The cerebral action bits and the romance between Morgan and Lani are the highlights of the film. Here's a detailed review of 'The Manny'
Doug Campbell directs 'The Manny' brilliantly
Doug Campbell is at the helm of affairs in 'The Manny' and he manages to keep this film exciting in every frame. At the core, this film is a difficult one to direct because it is based very intimately and in and around a family and the central characters. But the detailed execution of every scene with minimalistic camera movements makes you sit on the edge of your seat as an audience.
The writing by Tamar Halpern and Scott Mullen is intelligent and they are brilliant in including the exposition bits into the storyline. The character arcs of Lani and Morgan are destined to cross paths and when they do, it offers an intriguing finale that gives the story a fitting end.
Joanne Jansen and Michael Evans Behling steal the show
The story is a thriller but what drives the film is the chemistry between Lani and Morgan played by Joanne Jansen and Michael Evans Behling. They go from being strangers to being involved in a professional relationship to then falling in love and eventually at loggerheads.
Both the central characters perform with great passion and deliver a performance that deserves appreciation. They have great chemistry and are very competent performers.
The surprise of the film is young Ashton Ayres whose innocence is a blessing for this film. His relationship with both Morgan and Lani is the backbone of this story.
'The Manny' is a thriller that keeps you guessing till the end.
With subtle twists and turns and great character sketching, 'The Manny' is an exciting thriller that keeps you glued till the end. The pacing of the film and the runtime add significantly to making the film fun to watch.
The cinematography and editing of the film are exceptional. The shot composition and color grading make this film visually very intriguing. The art direction of the film is minimalistic but works very well for this film.
'The Manny' trailer
'The Manny' is streaming on Lifetime from May 9, 2024.
