Nonnas [Movie Review]

Nonnas [Movie Review] | While resting at home, I decided to watch a heartfelt and feeling good movie. 

And I chose Nonnas that is currently airing on Netflix. 

SYNOPSIS

Nonnas (2025) Trivia

• Starring: Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, Joe Manganiello, Linda Cardellini & Susan Sarandon
• Director: Stephen Chbosky
• Producer: Gigi Pritzker, Rachel Shane & Jack Turner
• Production Company: Fifth Season, 1Community, Madison Wells & Matador Content

• Distributed by: Netflix

• Release date: May 9, 2025

• Running time: 114 minutes
• Rating: MA
• Country: United States
• Language: English
• IMDb: 7.0/ 10
• Tomatometer: 80%
• Metascore: 57%
• The now-closed, world-famous Spirito's in Elizabeth, New Jersey, served as the restaurant location.
• Joe Scaravella himself appears briefly near the end, pouring wine at the bar. 

After losing his mother, Joe finds himself adrift in grief, haunted by the smells and sounds of his childhood kitchen in 1980s Brooklyn. Back then, his mother and nonna reigned over the stove, preparing a feast and feeding the family, the neighbors, anyone who walked in. Joe clings to those memories, trying to recreate their old recipes, though one eludes him: nonna’s famous Sunday gravy.

Over dinner one evening, Joe’s best friend Bruno and his wife Stella nudge him to do something meaningful with his mom’s life insurance - something that brings him joy. That suggestion plants a seed. A trip to the Staten Island open-air market, where he once shopped as a boy, brings more than fresh tomatoes. There he runs into Olivia, his high school crush, and her friend Antonella. That encounter sparks an idea. He wants to open a restaurant that feels like home, a place where grandmothers from different backgrounds cook the way only nonnas can. He names it Enoteca Maria, after his mom.

Despite local skepticism, Joe moves forward. Bruno helps renovate the space, and Joe pulls together a kitchen crew of lively, big-hearted nonnas: Antonella, his mom’s best friend Roberta, a bold hairdresser named Gia, and Teresa, who simply walked in looking for purpose. At first, the women clash as there are too many cooks, too many strong personalities. But a bonding session at Gia’s salon turns things around as the ladies share their life stories over drinks.

Things nearly unravel when Roberta accidentally sets a kitchen fire right before an inspection. The inspector fails them and says it could take a year to reapply. Joe and Bruno have a falling out, only for Joe to learn later that Bruno had sold his beloved car to cover costs renovating the restaurant. They make amends. Olivia, who is now a lawyer, confronts the crooked inspector and gets the inspection fast-tracked. Enoteca Maria finally opens.

So, the opening night comes and what happen? A disaster. Storms roll in. No customers. Later, they discover a market vendor badmouthed the place. Even a plea to a big-deal food critic goes unanswered. Joe prepares to shut down. 

He decides to throw one last dinner party, just for friends before he officially shuts down as he no longer has the money to open it.

Will another miracle save Joe and his dream?

MY REVIEW

What I Like:  

• It really is a feeling good movie and made me misses my family.  

What I Don't Like:

• None.

Will I Watch It Again: I don't mind watching it again, as light watching.   

Overall: 4.5/ 5.0

The pictures are taken from multiple sources on the Internet. Thank you.

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