'Nonnas' is inspired by an actual Staten Island restaurant named Enoteca Maria which recruited local grandmothers to be the chefs. It's a love letter to the matriarchs who are the heart and soul of Italian-American communities and their love language is food. Vince Vaughn plays Joe, a congenial 50-something bus mechanic with New York's Metropolitan Transportation Authority. Joe is so sweet and good-natured that in another era he could have been portrayed by Jimmy Stewart. Joe is dealing with the loss of his beloved mother Maria. With a sum of money he just inherited he yearns for a way to honor her and also to make a change in his life. Joe's mission becomes clear during a shopping trip to Staten Island when he sees a closed-down restaurant for sale. What better way to honor his mom than by serving up those delicious and crafted-with-love Italian dishes that were a tent pole of his happy childhood? There's one major problem: Joe has never owned or even worked in a restaurant and has zero experience in the hospitality industry. He does have a novel concept: hire local grandmothers to work in the kitchen. He recruits a friend of his mother, Roberta (Lorraine Bracco), who was sassing a worker at her senior center when Joe arrives. He also enlists the services of Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro) whom he encountered at a market; former nun Teresa (Talia Shire); and saucy beautician and cannoli master Gia (Susan Sarandon). Things do not go smoothly. The Nonnas bicker. There's a kitchen fire. An unscrupulous inspector cites the premise with multiple violations. Perhaps most crippling, there's a boycott of the restaurant by locals who resent outsider Joe (he's from Brooklyn!) taking over a popular neighborhood spot. 'Nonnas' is very much an underdog story. Heck, Adrian from 'Rocky' is in the cast. That Joe is able to overcome numerous obstacles to open the restaurant is a minor miracle. The titular Nonnas are much bigger underdogs: they reclaim their vitality and purpose defying those in society who believe they have outlived their usefulness. There's a very sweet subplot in which Joe randomly reconnects with the girl he inadvertently abandoned at the prom many years ago (Linda Cardellini). Excellent in a supporting role is Joe Manganiello who plays Joe's lifelong buddy Bruno who is willing to risk everything to help his friend realize his dream. Plot-wise the film is fresh yet feels very familiar with the large name-brand cast. 'Nonnas' is a heart-warming and yes, cheesy film about family, friendship, community and the importance of leading a purposeful life. It's also one hell of a two-hour ad for Enoteca Maria. I had never heard of it before but I need to get out to Staten Island. Mangia!

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