NONNAS (NETFLIX) (2025)

SYNOPSIS: After the loss of his mother, Joe Scaravella (played by Vince Vaughn) risks everything to honor her by opening an Italian restaurant with a group of local grandmothers as the chefs. Based on a true story, NONNAS is a heartfelt celebration of the love of food, family and all the ingredients of life. 

MOVIE REVIEW:

When you think of Vince Vaughn, you probably picture a fast-talking guy who can wriggle out of any sticky situation with charm and wit. He’s long been known as a comedic leading man but in recent years, Vaughn has taken a more serious turn with dramatic roles. In Nonnas, he plays another grounded type of character in a heartfelt comedic drama based on the true story of Joe Scaravella, the owner of the Staten Island Italian-American restaurant, Enoteca Maria.

After inheriting insurance money from his late mother, Joe (played by Vaughn) affectionately known as Joey decides to open a restaurant in her honor. Inspired by the home-cooked meals of his childhood, Joey wants the place to feel more like a cozy family kitchen than a formal eatery. To bring this vision to life, he enlists the help of four grandmothers or “nonnas” played by Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Brenda Vaccaro, and Talia Shire. Together, they create a rotating menu of authentic Italian homemade dishes.

Despite support from his best friend and contractor Bruno (Joe Manganiello), Joey’s dream restaurant faces its share of challenges: a burned oven, a corrupt building inspector and most pressing of all, a lack of customers. But in true feel-good movie fashion, things eventually come together in this predictable yet wholesome tale.

Director Stephen Chbosky, working from a screenplay written by his wife Liz Maccie, clearly aims to capture the warmth, energy, and chaotic charm of Italian families. The four nonnas especially Bracco’s Roberta and Vaccaro’s Antonella light up the screen with their cheeky banter and affectionate squabbling. Curiously though, while the film features plenty of Italian food, the dishes themselves aren’t really the focal point.

Vaughn’s signature comedic energy is notably dialed down, intentionally so. Nonnas isn’t the kind of film that calls for rapid-fire one-liners. Linda Cardellini adds a gentle touch as Joey’s childhood friend (and conveniently timed love interest) who reenters his life just when he needs her most. Manganiello plays a tough-guy persona with a soft heart while Sarandon brings her usual gravitas, elevating even a supporting role with ease.

Nonnas is a pleasant, feel-good film that never quite rises above its formula. It misses the chance to explore the rich cultural stories behind each nonna’s recipes and the humor never goes far beyond a few tame jokes mostly about food and friendly flirtations. Still, it’s a charming, visually warm film that delivers a sweet message about family, tradition and finding purpose later in life.

MOVIE RATING:

Review by Linus Tee