But here's one you won't be ashamed to watch. Sure, it's formulaic and you know where all the beats are. But, still, it's enjoyable and the closing credits show you that this is really based on a true story.
Plus the scenes of home Italian cooking in "Nonnas" will make you downright hungry.
Again, this is a true story. An amazingly subdued...and, gasp, likeable...Vince Vaughn plays an Italian guy in Staten Island who hasn't really ventured too far from his neighborhood. When his mom dies, he decides to buy an old corner store into a restaurant where all the cooks are local Italian grandmothers. And, indeed, they dug deep into the IMDB guide for casting.
Lorraine Bracco.
Talia Shire.
Brenda Vaccaro.
Susan Sarandon.
And, for good measure, although not a grandmother...Drea DeMatteo from the Sopranos.
How Italian can you get?
Of course, it takes a while for the old gals to come together and there is a food fight or two. Vaughn does his best to play referee and get the business off the ground. For a little cuteness, he is also reunited with the girl he stiffed for the senior prom.
Sounds simple and trite and very hokey? You bet it is. And it's the first movie I've actually enjoyed on Netflix in years. Yes, there is a happy ending and you could have Googled the actual restaurant to discover that the place is still open and it's tough to get a reservation.
Sometimes, life can be as simple as a harmless movie plot...and a nice bowl of Sunday dinner gravy.
LEN'S RATING: Four stars.
Dinner last night: Leftover salad.
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