This is definitely a family movie!! I could totally see my whole family sitting down to watch this in the living room with a heap of snacks in the middle (definitely a snack kind of movie because it will make your stomach rumble!!). There were a lot of big emotions in this film and I loved every second of it. 

The movie starts out with a scene from Joe’s childhood as he enjoys time with his family, friends, and especially his mother and nonna. Nonna is basically what Italian grandmothers are called, so that’s one of the first things you learn in this film. Right after that sweet childhood memory, you are brought to the funeral for Joe’s mother. It’s a rude awakening from the idyllic scene before, but it sets the stage perfectly for the rest of the movie. Joe is chasing after the memory of his mother and cooking is how he has found the way to do it. So, then, while exploring Staten Island, he finds a restaurant that is up for sale and risks everything to open it. His dream is to make feel like a home cooked meal from your nonna rather than a sit-down restaurant. This is where a lot of the humor of the movie comes out because all of the nonnas he hires are hilarious. You literally have nonna fights and I honestly saw a lot of my own grandmother in some of them. 

As far as other characters go, Joe has a small romantic subplot with a woman named Olivia (Linda Cardellini) who takes care of her neighbor, Antonella (Brenda Vacarro). Antonella ends up being one of the chefs for Joe and causes a lot of the comedic relief in my opinion. Antonella and Joe were definitely my top favorite characters. Joe’s best friend, Bruno (Joe Manganiello) helps to build the restaurant, and honestly lends to the whole “family” feeling within Joe’s community of people. 

The plot itself is very straightforward and easy to follow. One of my favorite things about the story as a whole, though, was at the end where the credits are giving you tidbits of the actual true story behind Nonnas.  I love a good true story that shows you to believe in humanity and I didn’t realize that this was based on one until the end. It made me love it even more. 

With the acting, like I mentioned, Antonella (Brenda Vacarro) and Joe (Vince Vaughn) were my favorite characters and a lot of that has to do with the acting. Antonella’s character was strong-willed and one of those grandmothers you don’t want to mess with (but who will sneak you candy in secret). Brenda Vacarro did a wonderful job getting that essence across on the screen. With Vince Vaughn, I hardly ever see him in serious, heartfelt movies (and, to be fair, I can’t remember the last time I actually watched a movie with him in it), but with Nonnas, Vaughn does an amazing job capturing the emotion and willpower to keep going of Joe after he loses his mother and picks up the pieces. I was seriously impressed by him. 

Overall, I really enjoyed this movie and the sweet emotions and humanity that it captures. The actors and actresses were phenomenal and the fact that it is based on a true story makes the whole movie even more uplifting. Definitely check it out if you love movies that make you feel like family (but make sure to have some pasta handy!). 

Where to Watch: Netflix