PG | 1h 51m | Comedy, Drama, Romance | 2025
Had “Nonnas” been made in the ‘90s (and it very easily could have), it would’ve debuted on Lifetime, TLC, or the Hallmark Channel. It is “throwback” in every sense of the word and is something you could watch with your grandmother. It’s only fitting, then, that “nonnas” is a name referring to Italian grandmothers.
A-list All the Way
For others, myself included, who don’t normally gravitate towards Hallmark or Lifetime fare, they should make an exception for “Nonnas,” solely based on the cast. These are A-list performers that usually star in mob movies, bawdy comedies, downbeat dramas, psychological thrillers, and premium cable television.After a brief establishing flashback shot set in the ‘80s, the movie opens in the present day at the funeral of Maria (Kate Eastman), the mother of Joe Scaravella (Vince Vaughn). It’s held at the home the never-married Joe shared with his parents and grandmother, so the impact is especially hard-hitting.
Offering sturdy support is Joe’s childhood friend Bruno (Joe Manganiello) and his wife Stella (Drea de Matteo), as well as Maria’s hairdresser-baker friend Gia (Susan Sarandon). Unable to attend the funeral because of an injury is Roberta (Lorraine Bracco), Maria’s BFF of 60 years.
Four Cooks
Joe has what he thinks to be a great idea. He’s going to name the restaurant “Enoteca Maria,” and hire “nonnas” to cook dishes originating from all corners of Italy. First to join the cooking crew, there are, of course, Roberta and Gia. Next is the arrival of Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro), the neighbor of Olivia (Linda Cardellini), who is Joe’s high school crush. Rounding out the power foursome is Teresa (Talia Shire), a recently retired Bronx nun.
Truth be told, only one of the characters is an authentic nonna. That would be Roberta. Antonella is widowed and childless, Gia is never-married and childless, and Teresa was … well, a nun. “Nonna” as used here refers to elderly Italian ladies.
Director Stephen Chbosky is best known for his novel, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” which he adapted into a movie. For “Nonnas,” he worked with a script written by his wife, Liz Maccie; it celebrates Italian culture without parodying, stereotyping, or sanitizing it.
Just Before Dawn
All of this changes with the start of the third act. It’s always darkest just before dawn. Things begin to go wrong—tempers flare, hope is lost, and failure looms on the near horizon. At this point, “Nonnas” takes on a distinct mystery-thriller element.The featured dishes aren’t what you might find at high-end, white tablecloth restaurants in Manhattan. Rather, the menu is an old-world, mom-and-pop type found in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Staten Island, and any Little Italy neighborhood in big cities across the nation. Or maybe at your grandmother’s Sunday night dinner with the magical made-from-scratch gravy. The most obscure dish featured here is something called “capuzzelle.” Unless you’ve already had it, get ready to be semi-shocked when you Google it.
In tandem with cinematographer Florian Ballhaus (“The Devil Wears Prada,” “Red”), Chbosky makes the food the real star of the movie. There’s a lot of ceiling-mounted camera work, and close-ups of various dishes being prepared, all guaranteed to make your mouth water profusely. Prepare to be wowed.
I’m going to go on record right now by declaring that “Nonnas” will be the feature film played either before, during, or after many Italian-themed dinner parties in the near and distant future. If you like this movie, be sure to check out the similar Italian food-centric comedy “Big Night” from 1996.
