2025, United States, 109 min.
After the death of his beloved mother, middle-aged Brooklyn lifer Joe Scarvella (Vince Vaughn) copes by cooking her Italian recipes. Warm memories of delicious food and living room bonhomie spur Joe to buy a shabby, vacant restaurant in Staten Island and hire nonnas—Italian grandmothers—to cook and summon those familial vibes. Yes, there’s a makeover scene. Yes, there’s a food fight in the kitchen. Despite its predictable emotional maneuvers, Nonnas shines in its depiction of four women (Brenda Vaccaro, Talia Shire, Lorraine Bracco and Susan Sarandon) (re)discovering their place in the world. “He’s not using me,” Vaccaro’s feisty character protests to an opponent of Joe’s restaurant. “He’s celebrating me.” The performances and camaraderie of the nonnas is the best part of this uplifting, well-intentioned drama-comedy. Based on a true story.
