She’s 85, Makes the Best Meatballs, and Just Took Over New York

She’s 85, Makes the Best Meatballs, and Just Took Over New York

A delicious dive into "Nonnas"—where age is just a number, and flavor is forever.

When you think of high-energy culinary chaos, family drama, and grandmothers with attitude, you don’t usually expect them all to come together in a film. But "Nonnas", released on May 9, 2025, breaks every mold like a wooden spoon snapping in frustration—and it does so with the most heartwarming smile.

Starring none other than Vince Vaughn alongside a cast of real-life Italian grandmothers, Nonnas is more than just a food movie. It’s a story about love, loss, legacy, and the never-ending power of pasta.

🍝 The Plot: From Kitchen Dreams to Culinary Revolt

Vince Vaughn plays Joe Scaravella, a Staten Island restaurant owner struggling to keep his late mother’s memory alive. After a series of failed chefs, he does the unthinkable—he hires a team of Italian grandmothers (nonnas) to run his kitchen.

What starts as a quirky business decision turns into a cultural movement. These grandmas don’t just cook—they heal, scold, and ignite the entire neighborhood with their fierce traditions and even fiercer tempers.

As the restaurant gains fame, tensions rise. Old rivalries bubble to the surface, secrets are revealed, and Joe must decide whether tradition is worth the chaos—or the only thing worth saving.

👵 The Real Stars: Nonnas With No Filter

What sets Nonnas apart is its authentic casting. These aren’t actresses pretending to be Italian grandmothers—these are real nonnas, handpicked from different regions of Italy, each with their own culinary background and attitude.

From Maria, the strict Roman who believes tomatoes must be hand-peeled, to Concetta, the Neapolitan nonna who spikes her sauce with wine and wisdom, every one of them steals the show.

Their banter is unscripted, their cooking is unsupervised, and their love is unfiltered.

😂 Comedy That Feels Real

At its core, Nonnas is a comedy, but not in the slapstick sense. It’s rooted in the humor of generational differences, language gaps, and the universal awkwardness of family.

One scene, where a nonna chases a food critic out of the kitchen with a rolling pin, had the audience howling. Another, where they Facetime their grandchildren for tips on TikTok trends, strikes a perfect balance between laughter and emotion.

🎬 Direction & Style

Directed by Tommy Mottola, Nonnas blends documentary-style realism with light-hearted cinematic charm. The handheld shots inside the kitchen make you feel the steam, the sauce, the chaos.

The soundtrack is a delightful mix of classic Italian tunes and upbeat modern beats, symbolizing the collision between past and present.

❤️ Themes That Stick

Beyond the laughs and lasagna, Nonnas hits some real emotional chords:

Grief & Healing: Joe’s desire to reconnect with his mother through food is heartfelt and deeply relatable.

Cultural Identity: The film celebrates Italian-American traditions without turning them into caricatures.

Aging with Dignity: These women aren’t side characters—they’re the driving force. It’s a bold statement in an industry obsessed with youth.

🧄 Bonus: You’ll Leave Hungry

If there’s one side effect of watching Nonnas, it’s this: you will crave Italian food. The food shots are downright pornographic. The mozzarella stretch. The sizzling garlic. The red wine swirling. It’s practically a cooking show inside a feature film.

And yes, there’s a scene where someone cries while making ravioli. It’s beautiful.

📉 A Few Stumbles

Not everything is perfect. Some subplots (like Joe’s romantic interest) feel undercooked. And a couple of the nonnas blur together if you’re not familiar with the cultural differences.

But those are minor hiccups in an otherwise flavorful experience.

🎯 Final Verdict

Nonnas is the kind of film that hugs you like a warm dish of baked ziti. It’s comforting, hilarious, and brimming with soul.

In a world obsessed with trends and technology, Nonnas reminds us that sometimes the best things in life are simmered slowly by wrinkled hands with generations of stories.

Rating: 9.0/10 – Pure heart with a parmesan crust.

#ItalianCinema

#FoodFilm

#ComedyDrama