I was surprised by the success of The Nonnas, a small, unassuming Netflix film. It follows a familiar formula — not exactly a “family movie,” but the basic recipe everyone knows. The one unusual ingredient here is that it’s inspired by a true story. But even that doesn’t rescue it from its alarmingly predictable plot.

Vince Vaughn plays Joe, a grieving man who loses both his mother and grandmother in quick succession, leaving him directionless. His solution? Open an Italian restaurant staffed entirely by grandmothers — yes, the nonnas in the title. Naturally, there are plenty of bumps along the way, but nobody doubts the happy ending. After all, it made it to Netflix — how surprising could it be?

Like every Italian-American rom-com, there are vintage songs, spontaneous dancing, loud arguments followed by heartfelt reconciliations, and lots and lots of food. Pasta, wine, and affection flow as if calories didn’t exist. What some critics praised as “original” — and I found shallow — is the film’s depiction of a man embracing his vulnerability, mourning the most important women in his life, and flirting with an Oedipal undertone.

Opening a restaurant in Staten Island seems to Joe like the perfect way to cope with his grief. He credits his mother and grandmother for his skills in the kitchen, but knows nothing can replace the warmth and love of their presence. First, he turns to his mother’s friends (played by Lorraine Bracco and Susan Sarandon). Then, through a Craigslist ad, he finds two more women (Brenda Vaccaro and Talia Shire) eager to join the project, not just out of friendship, but a desire to feel useful again.

If you’re in the mood for a few hours of sappy, feel-good storytelling, this is a full plate. It lacks personality, but the familiar ingredients and clichés make sure As Nonnas isn’t outright annoying — just a little bland. Think of it as cinematic comfort food: warm, easygoing, and instantly forgettable.