LOGLINE
A former TV idol and Hollywood bad-boy, now struggling to get by, takes a job as a nanny to the little girl next door and must apply lessons learned in order to save his relationship with his own daughter.
SYNOPSIS
Open on a casting office. A room full of twenty-something hopefuls waiting for their big break. In swaggers TYLER DEAN, a former TV idol, now twenty years past his prime. He bursts into the audition. The director humors him and then politely shows him the door.
Tyler still thinks he can play the young leads, but his agent argues that he needs to accept the parts offered him and to get along with the directors. Even EMMA, his twelve-year-old daughter, can see he is not being realistic. Tyler has begun spending more time with Emma, trying to make up for years he was not around. However, her mother can not forgive his reckless behavior and is constantly dragging Tyler into court, for one thing or another.
When the nanny to Tyler’s next-door neighbor’s daughter, KYLIE, gets hurt, Tyler offers to help out. He figures it is an easy way to make some cash between auditions. Kylie, who has a crush on Tyler, thinks it’s a great idea, but KATHERINE, her mother, is skeptical. She agrees to let Tyler fill in, just until she can find a new nanny.
Tyler embraces his new job like a movie role, but taking care of a little girl turns out to be harder than he thought. There is the inevitable ‘pancake disaster’ and he must fit a child-seat into his Alfa Romeo. But Tyler makes it work. He does all the things with Kylie that he missed out on doing with Emma. He even manages to fit in a few casting calls, but auditioning for twenty-something roles with a five-year-old girl and Burberry baby bag in tow, does not help him get the parts. As for his party time, these days Tyler is asleep by nine o’clock!
Katherine is surprised and enchanted by this new version of Tyler. When a late night drink turns into an impulsive kiss, things get complicated. But they agree to keep it professional, after all, he is the manny.
Just as Tyler seems to be getting his life in order, Emma drops a bomb-shell; her mom is moving them to Denver. Tyler is furious. He tries to stop them, but he is out lawyered and out of money. Katherine calls in a favor from an attorney she knows in Denver, but before Tyler sees the judge, he visits Emma at her school without permission and is arrested. His attorney is able secure his freedom, but Emma is to remain with her mother in Denver.
Back in Los Angeles, Tyler is despondent. Kylie asks why he doesn’t just fly Emma out. He tells her he needs money to make that happen, but he has none because he is old and no longer famous. Kylie asks, “can’t you be famous when you’re old?”
Suddenly it becomes clear to Tyler just what he must do.
He calls his agent and tells him to take anything he is offered. He starts doing commercials and guest spots on TV shows. Soon his career takes off again and he lands a sitcom. He flies Emma out for the filming of his new show and they celebrate together with Kylie and Katherine.
The Manny is currently in development. For more information see The Manny Movie or at the Facebook page facebook.com/themannymovie
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