COMEDY DRAMA. “Nonnas.” / “The Luckiest Man in America.” / “The Rooster.”

“Nonnas” (2025, Netflix) biographical comedy-drama, based on the life of Joe Scaravella, the owner of Staten Island (New York City) restaurant Enoteca Maria, who risks everything to honor his recently deceased, beloved mother by opening an Italian restaurant with actual grandmothers as chefs.


       I didn't recognize the grandmothers until after watching per Google: Lorraine Bracco, Brenda Vaccaro and Talia Shire. All lookin’ fine and acting remarkably. Add the hottie grandma, Susan Sarandon. 

       The lead is Vince Vaughn as Joe Scaravella. You know, wherever Vince is, he can't stop talkin’ and talkin’ and talkin’. He didn't talk as much here though; the grannies did most of the talking and arguing and stuff.

       Rotten Tomatoes: "Like a homey dish prepared for family, ‘Nonnas’ just wants to provide heaping helpings of comfort — and does so with enough charm that audiences may want seconds.” I concur. Enough said. Now, pass the pasta sauce, please! 🎥💻📽


<>“The Luckiest Man in America” (2024, Hulu) American drama, presents a semi-fictionalized account of Michael Larson's 1984 appearance on “Press Your Luck,” during which he used his memorization of the gameboard's patterns to win record sums of money and prizes. 



       This is a sensational true story, no doubt. But writer/director Samir Oliveros lacked creative resourcefulness to jazz up the drama a bit. He tried though. Luckily (pun intended), the ever-reliable Paul Walter Hauser portrays the “lucky man,” Michael Larson. Paul's easy handle of the character is the quiet charm of the show. 🎥💻📽


“The Rooster” (2023, Amazon Prime) Australian comedy drama. Dan is a lonely country policeman in regional Victoria, Australia, who spends his mornings feeding his angry rooster. His mental state appears to be fragile, especially after a childhood friend, Steve, is found dead in the forest, and his rooster is killed by a fox. 



       This off-grain movie emerges like a typical A24 indie. Charmingly weird but without the graphic grossness of an Ari Aster mischief. Writer/director Mark Leonard Winter crafted a sensitive balance of comedy and drama, equally odd, that worked.

       The synergy between Hugo Weaving's “hermit” and Phoenix Raei's Dan kept us engaged and touched as well. A subtle study of isolation and loneliness. Both Hugo and Phoenix won acting awards in Australia for their work. 🎥💻📽


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