Eloise At Christmastime (2003)

Set in 1958, a precocious six year old girl named Eloise (Sofia Vassilieva) lives with her nanny (Julie Andrews) at the plush Plaza hotel while her mother lives in Europe. The cheeky child makes it her business to keep her finger in the lives of the hotel's guests and employees. Based on the book by writer/performer Kay Thompson (FUNNY FACE), what could have been ruined by an attack of the Disney cutes remains true to the Thompson source material. Vassilieva pops right out of the book's pages, sassy, brassy and a bit annoying ..... but inevitably a charmer. Andrews nicely plays against type, her lady like elegance not to be seen as the slovenly, egg nog slugging nanny. It's bright and colorful with a genuine feel of Christmas and one can view it without making apologies. Directed by Kevin Lima. With Christine Baranski, Jeffrey Tambor, Debra Monk, Kenneth Welsh, Sarah Topham, Rick Roberts and Gavin Creel.