Nonnas: A Warm & Toasty Comedy! (Netflix)

One of my life's greatest regrets is watching this movie prior to eating dinner!  Robin and I got so hungry watching all these great Italian dishes being prepared that we had to stop the movie halfway through it, and then finish it after dinner.  The movie is based on the true story of Jody Scaravella, who opened up an Italian restaurant on Staten Island in 2007, "Enoteca Maria."  The unique feature of this restaurant (and it's still in business) is that the chefs were all Italian Nonnas (grandmothers), cooking dishes from numerous regions of Italy, which had been passed down for generations. Joe (Vince Vaughn)'s mother has just died, and having been her caretaker for years, his grief is intense.  Joe hasn't been very successful in his life, with respect to his career or having a family.  His mother has left him $200,000 in life insurance, but, at first, he doesn't know what to do with it.  Joe has strong happy memories of his grandmother and mother cooking wonderful dishes at his house.  The family all got along well, and the vibes at his home were very happy and loving. Joe decides to take the Staten Island ferry to go to an Italian market where his mom had shopped, in order feel close to her.  While there, he meets a very attractive (but married) female friend, Olivia (Linda Cardellini) – who he had asked to his high school prom – shopping with her mother, Antonella (Brenda Vaccaro). Later on, while exploring Staten Island, he passes by an Italian restaurant that had recently closed because the beloved owner had died.  Joe gets the inspiration to buy the restaurant, totally recreate the interior, and hire Nonnas to cook the meals.  He puts $175,000 of the $200,000 from his mother's life insurance as a down payment.  As luck would have it, his best friend Bruno is a contractor.  Taking a big financial risk to help Joe fulfill his dream, Bruno agrees to build the interior and fix up the exterior, without taking any up-front money from Joe.  Joe will pay Bruno back only after  the restaurant becomes profitable.  Joe then hires four Nonnas to be the chefs: Teresa (Talia Shire), Gia (Susan Sarandon), Roberta (Lorraine Bracco), and Antonella.  There is much to do to open a restaurant.  There are interesting dynamics between the Nonnas, and numerous unanticipated obstacles occur prior to the opening. I won't say any more about the plot, but the movie is heartwarming and often very funny.  It has a terrific message about family, friendship, and respect for older adults and how they still have much to contribute, if given a chance.  The ensemble cast is terrific and the film is just the right length.  It's considerably better than the average rental. I am writing this review on Saturday afternoon, and I think Rob and I will go out for Italian food tonight!