In Nonnas, director Stephen Chbosky plates up a heartwarming, if occasionally overly sweet, tribute to heritage and healing through food. Inspired by the real-life restaurant Enoteca Maria, where grandmothers helm the kitchen, the film follows Joe (Vince Vaughn), a Staten Island MTA worker grieving his mother’s death. Yearning for her signature Sunday gravy and the warmth of family meals, Joe launches a restaurant staffed entirely by Italian nonnas—women with decades of kitchen wisdom and personality to match.
The ensemble of Hollywood veterans—including Lorraine Bracco, Susan Sarandon, Talia Shire, and Brenda Vaccaro—shine brightest in unscripted-feeling scenes of laughter, rivalry, and reminiscing over limoncello and loss. While the film struggles to balance its heartfelt homage with contrived subplots and platitudinal dialogue, its sincere core and rich performances remain endearing.
With luscious shots of slow-simmered sauces and flour-dusted hands, Nonnas champions cooking as an act of love, memory, and connection. Though it never fully explores the deeper cultural weight of its culinary roots, the film leaves audiences full on warmth—and maybe craving a plate of pasta made with a grandmother’s touch. Like a Sunday supper, it’s familiar, a little messy, and ultimately nourishing.
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