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‘mafia mamma’ review: toni collette and monica bellucci in catherine hardwicke’s strained mob comedy.

The latest from the 'Twilight' director is about a woman who travels to Italy for a funeral only to reluctantly become a crime boss.

By Frank Scheck

Frank Scheck

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Toni Collette and Monica Bellucci in MAFIA MAMMA

Encouraged by her workout buddy Jenny (Sophia Nomvete), Kristin heads to Rome for what she hopes will be, after the funeral at least, an “Eat Pray Fuck” experience since she hasn’t had sex in three years. After a “meet cute” at the airport with the much younger, hunky Lorenzo (Giulio Corso), she’s greeted by a pair of bodyguards (an amusingly Laurel and Hardyish Alfonso Perugini and Francesco Matroianni), who escort her to her grandfather’s palatial estate.

It isn’t long before Kristin discovers that she’s actually been summoned to take her grandfather’s place as head of the local crime family, with Bianca serving as her trusted consiglieri. The position is not without its risks, as Kristin finds out when an assassination attempt is made during her grandfather’s funeral and a competing crime boss tries to poison her during a private meeting.

If that comment, or the graphic depiction of said act, strikes you as amusing, you may be the target audience for Mafia Mamma . The film’s creatives — including director Catherine Hardwicke ( Twilight ), screenwriters Michael J. Feldman and Debbie Jhoon, and producer Amanda Sthers, who came up with the original story — seem to think they’re trafficking in feminist themes. But despite Collette’s talents, the central character seems distinctly dumbed-down in her pursuits. She doesn’t come across nearly as well as Bellucci’s Bianca, who delivers one of the film’s few funny lines after Kristin finally sleeps with Lorenzo. “I thought that once you had sex, you’d calm down a bit,” she says, unwittingly speaking for the film’s audience. Meanwhile, Collette is saddled with such dumb bits as giddily announcing “I made muffins!” at a meeting with rival crime families.

In contrast to Bellucci, who underplays in dignified fashion, Collette works hard, very hard, to sell the concept and her character. That she fails is not an insult to her formidable gifts, but rather due to the flimsiness of the material, which seems better suited to the small screen. If you want to see a truly witty comedy dealing with similar themes, stick with rewatching Jonathan Demme’s terrific 1988 film Married to the Mob .

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Mafia Mamma

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. 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. 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.

Catherine Hardwicke
Amanda Sthers
J. Michael Feldman
Debbie Jhoon
Toni Collette
Monica Bellucci
Sophia Nomvete
117 User reviews
75 Critic reviews
42 Metascore

Top cast 28

Don Giuseppe Balbano

Krav Maga Trainer

Maria AKA 'Aunt Esmeralda'
Rudy AKA 'Lorenzo'

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Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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Did you know

Trivia In The Godfather (1972), oranges are displayed to foreshadow a death. It happens in this movie as well during the funeral procession and later on with "orange" muffins.
Goofs Monica Bellucci 's left lower limb ("thigh, knee and leg") is obviously not a prosthetic one.

Bianca : [to Kristen] You look like a librarian in a library, not a porno.

Alternate versions The UK release was cut, the distributor chose to make cuts to a scene of strong gory violence in order to obtain a 15 classification. An uncut 18 classification was available.
Connections Referenced in Brad Tries Podcasting: Book Club 2/Knights of the Zodiac/Blackberry (2023)
Soundtracks Il Primo Whisky Written by Luciano Beretta , Mario Bertolazzi , Marcello Marchesi Performed by Gianni Morandi Published by Universal Music Publishing MGB Ltd. on behalf of Universal Music Publishing Ricordi Srl c/o 1963 Sony BMG Music Entertainment (Italy) S.p.A. Licensed by Sony Music Entertainment UK Limited