Directed by: Stephen Chbosky
Starring: Vince Vaughn, Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, and Susan Sarandon
Rated PG
Streaming on Netflix

First Impression: Director Stephen Chbosky has made one of the best movies I’ve ever seen about grief, loss, and family. “Nonnas” will tug at your heartstrings and make you feel love for your family—and for the food that was created while you were together.

Vince Vaughn, who’s known mostly for crude or raunchy comedies, carries the film marvelously, and we’re treated to great comedic performances from “nonnas” Lorraine Bracco, Talia Shire, Brenda Vaccaro, and Susan Sarandon. This is a film that’s accessible to all, and it’s something great for the whole family to gather around and celebrate the time we have together. Because in all honesty, we don’t know how much time we have with our loved ones—so it’s important to savor the moments and the food while we can.

When I was looking for a new movie to review this month, I saw “Nonnas” (which means “grandmothers” in Italian) on the Netflix queue and said, “Eh, why not?” I was expecting a schlocky, slapstick comedy that relied on tired tropes, ethnic stereotypes, and Vince Vaughn making sarcastic or insulting remarks along the way. But boy, was I in for quite the pleasant surprise.

The movie has incredible heart and charm at its core and respects its audience. It’s not in your face, and it takes time to discuss and comprehend tough issues that many of us avoid—like the grief from losing a parent or grandparent, and how that really changes and challenges you as a person. The film goes to great lengths to show how food—and the sharing and making of it—can serve as therapy and an outlet to combat the devastating effects of grief.

While watching the film, I couldn’t stop thinking of a memory I had with my grandparents. My grandfather was really craving ciruela (prune) pie, but my grandmother—who had suffered a stroke—was no longer able to cook. So she decided my grandfather and I should make the pie, and she would give us the recipe and “supervise (mock)” us.

Well, I can tell you now that it was one of the most labor-intensive, frustrating experiences I’ve ever had with pie. The crust, which was made from scratch, was so tough to work with that most of it ended up on the floor or in the trash rather than in the oven. My grandmother laughed loudly and said, “C’mon, guys—making pies is a piece of cake.”

My grandfather and I couldn’t help but laugh at the mess we made, and the pie we ended up eating couldn’t hold a candle to any of the ones my grandmother used to make. But it was worth it, because we made something together. We made it with love, laughter—and probably some dirt from the floor.
That precious memory will live with me for the rest of my life. And that’s how the movie “Nonnas” will make you feel. It will bring back happy memories you’ve had with your abuelas, and how they made you the best apple pies and chicken enchiladas—and somehow, you can never make them quite the same. Because they had the magic ingredient: love.

Final Verdict: 4¾ stars out of 5