Nonnas is the kind of feel-good hit Netflix has been dreaming about

Nonnas is a feel-good dramedy that you need more of. The truth is that the lead, Joe Scaravella (Vince Vaughn), has lost his mom and grandmother, and he wants to open an Italian restaurant on Staten Island even though he has no personal history of running an eatery. And it's all a true story.

Or, at least, based on one. Who better to play the alway wry Vaughn to play the role? Few. Brad Pitt would be too handsome. Bill Burr would be too aggressive. Ralph Fiennes would be too introspective (and English).

Because of the casting, which besides Vaughn includes Talia Shire, Susan Sarandon, Lorraine Bracco, Brenda Vaccaro, Linda Cardellini, Drea de Matteo, Joe Manganiello, among others, the movie was going to have a lot of quality. That doesn't mean all those actors are going to bring eyes to screens. We were also too early in the year for Netflix to care about Oscar nods.

Nonnas proves to be an instant success on Netflix

The good news for your favorite streamer is that Netflix has a big win as far as the number of people watching the film. According to Variety, Nonnas will debut at number one on Netflix's most-watched films of the week. Is it Oscar-worthy? Maybe not, but it's good.

After seeing the flick, you will feel better about yourself and life. Joe gets help from the nonnas (Italian for grandmothers) that he knows and others in the neighborhood. His best friend (Bruno, played by Mananiello) and the best friend's wife (Stella, played by de Matteo) help him create the restaurant of his dreams, and then people come and eat.

We mentioned this was based on a true story, right? One is unlikely to create a film based on a story of a person who has lost his key maternal figures and then fails at opening a restaurant. They shouldn't anyway. In the specific case of Netflix's Nonnas, the project is a critical and popular success.

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