MAFIA MAMMA (2023)

 

Directed By: Catherine Hardwicke

Written By: Michael J. Feldman and Debbie Jhoon

Based on a story By: Amanda Sthers

Cinematography: Patrick Murguia

Editor: Waldemar Centeno 

Cast: Toni Collette, Monica Bellucci, Alessandro Bressanello, Eduardo Scarpetta, Tommy Rodger,  Tim Daish, Sophia Nomvette, Gulio Corso, Dora Romano, Francesco Mastroianni 

An American mom inherits her grandfather's mafia empire in Italy. Guided by the firm's consigliere, she hilariously defies everyone's expectations as the new head of the family business.

At first, this film seems like it would be fun but it’s more a female audience-friendly culture comedy. Where the humor is not found in having a female mob boss but in having a middle-aged divorced housewife become a mob boss or go about trying to run a crime empire out of nowhere.

This would’ve been a high-concept comedy in the '80s, '90s, or maybe early 2000s that would’ve maybe been more of a star vehicle or at least offered up something a little more daring.

The film has a few laughable moments, but for the most part seems uninventive and uninspired, even adding in a romance aspect that proves to be more of a fantasy aspect of the movie turning more into a midlife crisis change of life types scenario.

No truthfully, there is more sizzle and star, Tony Collette, and costar Monica Bellucci’s scenes together that have a bit of flirtation and eroticism to it that could’ve made the film a little more risky, especially when there is seen where Bellucci straddles Colette.

The film is fine and simple, but it just feels so uninspired. They had a title and they just went with it and tried to make things up around it where most of the male characters are either Sexists or idiots or untrustworthy. 

Such as the scenes with her ex-husband, there was a way of making him more despicable and a loser rather than the obvious that the film chooses to go to where you wonder what she ever saw him if she was not a teen parent and a shotgun marriage.

Not to mention a film that is set in Italy. It’s not very picturesque. it seems like it was filmed in an indoor sets. That doesn’t look very expensive or that luscious. 

Also, there aren’t that many comedy set pieces or even that many action sequences the ones that they do have seem poorly set up. This film is more for the MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING crowd than anything.

I really wanted to like the film as I like the main cast. Usually, Toni Collette can do no wrong, and it is a pleasure anytime Monica Belluci is on screen. Yet, the only time the film is close to its potential is in the performance of Sophia Nomvette as Colette’s best friend. Who turns a typical sassy African-American best friend role and runs with it to utter hilarity. I only wish that she was more of the film.

Grade: D+