Nonnas (2025) - A Heartfelt Italian Movie

It’s never too late to start everything all over again.

Nonnas arrived out of the oven and onto Netflix in 2025. After the death of his mother, Joe Scaravella sets out on a risky journey to open an Italian restaurant, Enotica Maria. He hires four older women to be his cooks. This experience is eye-opening for everyone.

Nonnas whips up a heartfelt movie about Italian heritage, passion, and delicious plates of food. I couldn’t wait to see this movie as soon as I watched the trailer. I had this gigantic smile on my face while watching the film. Nonnas is a story about doing what you love and appreciating life.

I cannot describe how much my opinion on Vince Vaughn has taken a complete 180 in the last five years. I would not have been jumping in glee when I first watched the trailer, I can tell you that. Vaughn hasn’t been in the best of films, but now he’s creating a new image for himself.

Vaughn plays Joe Scaravella, a driven and passionate man who does everything he can to make his restaurant work. He does a spectacular job in the role. This was my first time seeing him be openly emotional in a performance. Vaughn also has his own comedic trademarks, which include talking fast. Joe teaches viewers to keep fighting for what they love.

As the four bickering nonnas, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, and Susan Sarandon bring heart, sarcasm, and a lot of cooking. Each actress is terrific. This was a very different role for Sarandon as a break from her typecast snarky personality.

The majority of the women’s performances are constant bickering, mainly over nationalities, looks, and cooking recipes. I thought that was the basis of the characters until they had a sincere bonding session. The women’s bonding moment is a beautiful scene. Nobody ever knows what anyone has endured in life.

Dead to Me fans are in for a surprise. Linda Cardellini plays Olivia, Joe’s estranged childhood sweetheart. Other than their flirting, Cardellini and Vaughn share a touching cooking scene. The pair had great chemistry.

You always need supportive friends at your side, and without Bruno and Stella (Joe Manganiello and Drea de Matteo), Joe would be lost. Manganiello was particularly excited for this film because it was his first time playing an Italian character, which is true to his heritage.

Nonnas is based on the true events of Jody Scaravella opening the now-famous Enotica Maria in New York. Stephen Chbosky, who directed the moving The Perks of Being a Wallflower, created a film with all the Italian flair and plates filled with delicious foods. This film has exceptional flavor.

Set in the hustling and bustling New York City, that’s not where Nonnas was filmed. Filming took place in New Jersey. The real Enotica Maria still exists, but due to being a major hotspot, they had to create a makeshift restaurant set. They filmed at Spiritos, an Italian restaurant in Elizabeth, New Jersey.

Nonnas is food, food, food. Every scene has heaping plates of Italian dishes. As speculated, the cast devoured tons of food during the production. Food is about the connection.

I enjoyed this movie from beginning to end. It’s a genuine film with a lot of heart. It has positive messages about following your dreams. Good endings will come; they take time. Like in real life, currently, Enotica Maria is very difficult to make reservations.

Nonnas is something special, so take a look at it on Netflix. Don’t watch it on an empty stomach. Your stomach will be rumbling.