Nonnas

Repeatedly drives home its point about the unifying force of a homecooked meal as an embodiment of community, and even as it overcrowds its narrative pot with too many unnecessary condiments that get lost in the mix, the result is ultimately palatable.

You're not going to be planted at the edge of your seat here, but "Nonnas" has ample pleasures.

"Nonnas" follows a familiar underdog formula and checks off story beats you can set your watch by.

No subtext goes unexplained, and at times the score underlines what we already know. But the actors always find the grace notes, and there are sparks in the way everyday exchanges turn sharp with compassion.

Nonnas is innocuous to a fault, murderously fond of tarantellas on the soundtrack, and doesn’t come within hawk-and-spit distance of authentic charm.

Nonnas is a perfectly digestible advertisement for Enoteca Maria, both through its decadent food photography and successful evocation of the warmth of a hard-built community.

Feel-good films are few and far-between these days, so discovering this nostalgic, compassionate dramaedy was an unexpected delight.

What ultimately makes Nonnas worthwhile is its emotional authenticity. It tugs on just enough heartstrings, offers just enough food porn to make you crave pasta and delivers a generous helping of maternal nostalgia.

Corny, sentimental and irresistible.

A pleasant blend of comedy and pathos, with writers Liz Macci and Jody Scaravella and director Stephen Chbosky never going overboard on either. At the very least you’ll leave the movie craving a big plate of lasagna.