Nonnas Parent Guide

After losing his beloved mother, Joe (Vince Vaughn) wonders if he could be doing more with his life. As he processes his grief by cooking his mother’s favorite recipes, he decides to open an Italian restaurant with a twist: instead of hiring professional chefs, he’ll hire local Italian grandmothers, nonnas, so they can share their stories through food.

To make his dream of opening Enoteca Maria come true, Joe recruits the help of his friends and family, but starting a restaurant is not without its challenges. Between wrangling the nonnas, managing financial stresses, and passing inspections, Joe has his hands full. But as opening night draws closer, he starts to wonder if his dream will ever become a reality.

Nonnas is a love letter to Italian cooking, to nonnas, and to family. Although the story is slow paced and contemplative, I was never bored. The emotional core of this film is so compelling and the characters so lovable that the film feels like a warm hug. Although I’m not Italian, I still felt a sense of home and nostalgia. The universal themes of family, grief, and new beginnings are sure to resonate with audiences of any cultural background. I will admit that this movie made me cry. More than once.

Superbly acted, tightly written, and emotionally resonant, Nonnas is sure to become a comfort watch for many viewers. It does lean into saccharine territory sometimes, and I think the second act drags slightly, but these are minor complaints. This isn’t a film you watch for deep philosophical discussions; you watch it to remember your grandmother and to ogle amazing food. The food is the real star of the show, with expertly composed shots of slow bubbling tomato sauce, colorful pasta, and sizzling meat. I’m salivating again just thinking about it.

With very little in the way of negative content short of some mild swearing and a fair amount of social drinking, Nonnas is sure to be a hit with many audiences. The themes are what make this film work, with deft explorations of grief, aging, new beginnings, and family. Though some of those ideas may not be as relatable to younger audiences, I think there’s something here for almost anyone. And if all you want is a craving for Italian food, that works too.