Mafia Mamma2023

This high-concept romp demands an over-the-top and facile narrative, and some of the bits are a bit hackneyed, but Mafia Mamma is much more wacky, funny and violent than the too-tame trailers would have you believe. Collette goes for broke in her performance and Hardwicke juggles the tone, style and genre play with ease.

IN A NUTSHELL: While film critics are hating this movie, ranking it as low as 20% on Rotten Tomatoes, audiences are enjoying the performances and goofy story, awarding it a score of 67%. It was directed by Catherine Hardwicke, and written by J. Michael Feldman and Debbie Jhoon. The story is about an American mother who inherits her grandfather’s mafia empire in Italy when he is killed by another mobster fighting over turf. When she discovers she is in over her head, she is guided by the mafia’s consigliere as she defies everyone’s expectations as the new head of the family business. THINGS I LIKED: Toni Collette has proven before that she can equally do drama, horror, and comedy. The humor and action in this script must have tickled her funny bone…or maybe it was the free trip to Italy and countless bottles of wine and spoonfuls of delicious gelato that convinced her to accept the script. I mean, who wouldn’t want to do a movie in awesome Italy? She does a great job as a fish out of water, and seems to be truly having fun with the role. She also helped produce the movie. Also starring in the movie are Monica Bellucci, Sophia Nomvete, Giulio Corso, Francesco Mastroianni, Alfonso Perugini, Eduardo Scarpetta, Tim Daish, and Tommy Rodger. We get to travel to beautiful Italy, of course! There is a lot of physical and spoken humor. Many women will appreciate the story that features a woman not putting up with infidelity, dismissive colleagues, and a second-rate life. It’s empowering to watch a woman embrace her inner strengths and create a new life where she is valued and can contribute to some good in the world. THINGS I DIDN’T LIKE: The humor is silly and often cringeworthy, which should make for a harmless comedy, yet there is also violence with blood and gore that doesn’t quite match the tone. It kind of plays as a parody There is a vulgar reference to the book and movie Eat, Pray, Love that is repeated many times that is supposed to make us laugh. It doesn’t. Italians will probably be offended by the way they’re represented in the film. TIPS FOR PARENTS: Lots of crude conversations So many sexual references We see a man behind a woman… An attempted **** Profanity, including many F-bombs A woman vomits. Gross We see bloody body parts during brutal deaths. Violence A man farts. Lots and lots of wine.

If it all sounds silly, it is. But it works, far, far better than it should, for one main reason. Well, two, actually. The mighty Toni Collette (who also co-produced the movie) stars as Kristin, and she delivers a funny, touching, and effervescent performance that sweeps you along in its wake. Monica Bellucci plays Bianca oh-so-drolly and bounces beautifully off of Collette.