"Nonnas," directed by Stephen Chbosky, tells the poignant true story of Joe Scaravella, played by Vince Vaughn, who opens a Staten Island restaurant with Italian grandmothers as chefs. Despite its predictable plot and clichéd portrayal of Italian-American culture, the film has an earnest charm, featuring well-known actors like Talia Shire and Susan Sarandon. The film oscillates between humor and sincerity, aiming to be heartwarming like cultural predecessors but struggles to find its own voice. Its focus on kindness amidst familiar tropes resonates within contemporary cinematic narratives.
There is an obvious reverence for cultural predecessors like "Moonstruck" and "My Cousin Vinny" baked into "Nonnas," though it can't quite find the natural rhythm that might have made it work better.
Vaughn plays Joe, who has no business savvy or restaurant knowledge but got the idea after the loss of his own mother and grandmother.
Yet itâs all done with an evident earnestness and kindness that makes it impossible to write off. Is it a sign of the times that a bunch of people just being kind to one another is basically enough?
It's based on a heartwarming true story, features a lot of shots of simmering Sunday sauces and touts a lovable cast of veteran Italian American actors.
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