Vince Vaughn’s new movie Nonnas is a heartfelt, bittersweet comedy that tells the real-life story of restaurant owner Joe Scaravella (Vaughn) and his Italian restaurant, where all the chefs are real-life Italian grandmothers. It’s a very sweet film that makes the most of its unique premise, and it’s received overwhelmingly positive reviews since its release on Netflix. The film is written by Liz Maccie and directed by Stephen Chbosky, who is best known for his work on The Perks of Being a Wallflower. Nonnas has a strong Rotten Tomatoes score of 82%, which reflects its charming story and lovable characters.
At its core, the Netflix movie is about the universal experience of cooking alongside loved ones, and the many ways in which this opens the door for shared memories and reflections of the past. Scaravella opened his restaurant, Enoteca Maria, in honor of his late mother, who introduced him to Italian cooking. The business is a testament to family recipes, where all the chefs are encouraged to bring their own dishes and share them with the world. The on-screen chemistry of the Nonnas cast is what sells this movie, but there are several other reasons critics love it.
8
Nonnas Features An Excellent Vince Vaughn Performance
The Actor Taps Into Something Very Vulnerable For This Character
Vaughn’s character is the beating heart of Nonnas, so it’s crucial that audiences can relate to him and sympathize with his story. Without that added layer of empathy, the entire film falls apart. Thankfully, Vaughn delivers one of his most touching and vulnerable performances ever in Chbosky’s heartfelt drama, drawing from the universal experience of grief to create a well-rounded character with tangible strengths and flaws.
Joe’s plight is full of highs and lows, and Vaughn manages to effortlessly capture both sides of this protagonist. He’s funny when he needs to be, emotional in other moments, but always somebody whom the audience can root for.
7
The Cooking Scenes In Nonnas Are Mouth-Watering
The Film Makes The Most Of Its Tasty Dishes
While visuals typically are not enough to carry an entire film, there’s no denying that Chbosky’s mouth-watering sH๏τs of homemade Italian cooking bring an extra dimension of comfort to Nonnas. It’s so much easier to understand why Joe feels pᴀssionate about his grandmother’s cooking when it’s presented so beautifully on the screen — even Roberta’s capuzzelle, which may not seem the most appetizing to many viewers.
Food is such an important part of Nonnas, with the film often exploring how the cooking process can allow viewers to reflect on childhood memories and forge new ones at the same time. One of the most emotional moments in Nonnas is when Joe receives his late mother’s gravy recipe, and this wouldn’t have been half as powerful if the film hadn’t spent so much time with these characters simply cooking and discussing the flavors.
6
Nonnas Is Based On An Inspirational True Story
Enoteca Maria Is A Real Restaurant In New York
Though it may seem unbelievable at first, Nonnas is actually based on an entirely true story. The real-life figure of Joe Scaravella really did open a restaurant named Enoteca Maria in Staten Island in 2007, and while Nonnas takes a few creative liberties with the details of the story, the overall narrative is pretty much the same. This really enhances the viewing experience, keeping the audience aware that Joe’s dream isn’t fictional. It’s something that anybody can achieve.
5
Nonnas Has A Star-Studded Ensemble Cast
The Film’s тιтular Nonnas Are Played By Iconic Actresses
Vaughn may be the star of Nonnas’ cast, but the movie’s ensemble is filled with recognizable faces from several generations of classic cinema. With actors like Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, and Lorraine Bracco making appearances as the тιтular nonnas who work in the kitchens at Enoteca Maria, there’s a huge amount of talent attached to this film.
Much like the restaurant business that it’s inspired by, Nonnas feels like just as much a celebration of these talented grandmothers as the man who brought them together.
Each character is given plenty of room to develop and forge their own sympathetic storylines, which certainly isn’t always the case when movies have so many unique side characters. Much like the restaurant business that it’s inspired by, Nonnas feels like just as much a celebration of these talented grandmothers as the man who brought them together. It’s such a fun angle for telling this story, and the narrative really thrives as a result.
4
Liz Maccie’s Nonnas Screenplay Is Effortlessly Funny
The Writer Understands Exactly What Makes This Story Work
Ultimately, one of the biggest reasons that Nonnas is performing so well among critics is that it’s genuinely funny. For a film that doesn’t easily fit into the comedy genre thanks to its emotional subplots and heartwarming atmosphere, there are some hilarious line readings and running gags that keep audiences engaged from start to finish.
Whether this is the constant bickering between the nonnas themselves or Joe’s futile attempts to convince his friends that he’s making sensible business decisions, there’s a strong comedic throughline in the project that makes it so easy to watch. Nonnas may have been a difficult movie to make, but none of this translates to the screen. Instead, this plays like a group of friends simply having fun with each other, which is the exact tone that it’s aiming for.
3
Nonnas Has A Strong Message About Grief And Resilience
The Film Teaches Audiences Something Important About Themselves
However, not every scene in Nonnas is supposed to be funny. At its core, this is a story about how powerful grief can be, and how preoccupied people can often become in their pursuit of “overcoming” it. This is exactly what Joe is going through for the majority of the story, and the way that the Netflix movie deals with his storyline is very effective.
Instead of allowing Joe to overcome his grief in Nonnas’ ending, which would have been the easiest method of wrapping up this story, the movie allows him to feel comfortable in his grief and live alongside it. This is a message that everybody can relate to in some way, and it proves that Maccie always prioritized what made sense in her screenplay over what was convenient.
2
Nonnas’ Romance Is Compelling And Subversive
Joe & Olivia’s Dynamic Isn’t A Fairytale Romance
Although Joe’s romance with Olivia isn’t actually part of Nonnas’ true story, it was a very smart decision to insert this particular subplot into the film. Not only does it make room for one of the most likable characters, but it also gives audiences another reason to empathize with Joe and hope that he succeeds. But it’s not a typical romance. For the majority of the runtime, Olivia is dealing with her own grief: the loss of her husband.
Both Joe and Olivia are experiencing their own kinds of grief, and this romance is the perfect way for Maccie’s screenplay to explore the similarities (and differences) in their processes.
This subversive romance may not be what audiences expect from such a traditional and heartwarming comedy, but it provides a new perspective on Nonnas’ themes of grief and self-acceptance. Both Joe and Olivia are experiencing their own kinds of grief, and this romance is the perfect way for Maccie’s screenplay to explore the similarities (and differences) in their processes.
1
Joe Scaravella’s Story Is One That Anybody Can Relate To
It’s An Inspirational Story With Universal Themes
Perhaps the biggest and most obvious reason why the inspirational true story of Joe and Enoteca Maria resonates so profoundly with audiences is because it’s universally relatable. While not everybody will empathize with Joe’s decision to buy a restaurant, or even his particular culture as an Italian-American, everybody can understand something about grief and see reflections of their own lives in this film. Nonnas is a story that has no entry requirements, and that’s exactly why it’s become such a critical success.
