Nonnas

'Nonnas' is a sweet film, from Stephen Chbosky, based on a true story about a small, family-style restaurant (Enoteca Maria) on Staten Island. It had small-film greatness lurking, but the script needed the touch of a great comedy writer, like James Brooks or even Terry Winter.

Winter would have felt right at home writing for Sopranos alums: Lorraine Bracco, Drea de Mateo and Michael Rispoli. Add to that Susan Sarandon and Talia Shire, along with lead Vince Vaughn, and you have a Hell of a cast and, of course, the real star is the Italian food!

So, the film is heartwarming and entertaining, but not as great as it could have been.

The movie was a good use of two hours. Vince plays a man suffering from a loss and decides to honour the people that mattered most to him, in one of the ways they showed loved to him.

Through it we get to follow several characters and their journeys, both the main character and four elderly women finding life far more enjoyable. Through just like Vance, putting love in to their food. It sounds cheesy but it works quite well, the setbacks feel real however the one thing holding it back is the ending. While heartwarming and sweet, it also is quite abrupt. From the biggest set back to almost instant resolution. However it's not enough to hold it back from being worth watching.

Stephen Chbosky's Nonna's is a deeply affectionate, food-forward drama inspired by a true story that proves truth can be just as nourishing as fiction. Drawing from the real-life tale of Staten Island's Enoteca Maria-a restaurant founded by Joe Scaravella after the loss of his parents and grandmother-the film tells the story of Nick (Vince Vaughn), a grieving son who honors his mother's memory by opening a restaurant staffed entirely by grandmothers. What begins as a coping mechanism quickly becomes a celebration of heritage, healing, and the flavors that connect generations.

Vince Vaughn brings surprising depth to Nick, shedding his usual fast-talking persona for a performance rooted in quiet grief and reluctant hope. His chemistry with the "nonnas"-played brilliantly by Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, and Talia Shire-is the emotional heart of the film. These women, each with their own culinary traditions and personal histories, bring warmth, humor, and a raw honesty to every kitchen scene. Watching them bicker, laugh, and bond over saucepans and rolling pins is both entertaining and deeply moving.

Chbosky directs with a gentle hand, allowing the emotional beats to rise organically while layering the story with rich sensory details: steaming plates of homemade gnocchi, weathered hands kneading dough, and handwritten recipes passed down through generations. The Staten Island setting is lovingly rendered, grounding the film in a real, working-class community that embraces the nonnas and their old-world wisdom. The true story at the film's core adds weight and authenticity, elevating what could have been a sentimental tale into something genuinely soulful.

Nonna's isn't just about food-it's about honoring the past while building something new from the ruins of loss. Like the real Enoteca Maria, it's a testament to the quiet power of grandmothers, of tradition, and of the meals that carry memory. Chbosky has crafted a film that feels like a warm kitchen in winter: filled with the aroma of garlic and the hum of voices that remind us we're not alone. It's a delicious, heartfelt tribute to the women who nourish us-body and soul.

No sex and no dirty language, and guess what, no movie ever needs that. These feel-good movies are what we need more of.

Who doesn't love their nonna? It's an underdog movie. It has some humor. But it was the end that brought a feel-good tear to my eye. You couldn't help but want the restaurant to succeed for no other reason than Joe and the nonnas.

Where most cultures have the den as the place to hang out with company, but in cultures like Italian, French, and Greek, it's the kitchen. Kitchens are happy places in those cultures. They truly cook not out of necessity but love and enjoyment.

This one's worth watching.

I often watch a movie these days and up thinking "I wish I had those two hours back. What a waste."

This movie was just the opposite. Two hours very well spent. It has a great story that made me laugh and cry.

It has a fantastic cast. Every single one of the actors in this is stellar.

It has great music.

And it has food. Oh my goodness the food. Served family style - there are huge bowls of streaming pasta and pans of lasagne. Plates of cannoli.

The food looks so good that it made me feel faint.

Even writing this, my stomach is rumbling.

I'm not Italian but I am fond of Italian-leaning movies like Moonstruck, and I totally love the Inspector Montalbano detective series (it takes place in Sicily and is very food-forward).

I didn't know about the "sauce versus gravy" question. Hmmm.

So this movie is about love and family and grief and hope and friendship and perseverance. It is easy on the eyes - not overly directed or overwhelmingly produced. It's about growing old and staying young. And it's about food.

I recommend it. 9 stars but it probably could be 10. It's not like "Best Picture" quality but it is sweet and has heart. I have nothing bad to say about it.