Common Sense Media Review
By Tara McNamara
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent female empowerment comedy has sex, blood, language.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 16+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Mafia Mamma
What's the Story?
In MAFIA MAMMA, American empty-nester Kristen (Toni Collette) learns that her estranged grandfather has passed away. She must travel to Italy to settle his estate. Upon arrival, she learns that her grandfather was actually a powerful Mafia don and has left "the family business" in her charge.
Is It Any Good?
With its lovely Italian setting and female empowerment messages, this crime comedy has a promising setup, but it loses its appeal thanks to its silly, coarse execution. Director Catherine Hardwicke is known for female-centered films that are beautifully shot but can have off-putting storytelling, and Mafia Mamma isn't a departure in that sense. Kristen may feel very familiar to many viewers, especially women who are used to taking care of others. She's a people pleaser, putting others' needs in front of her own, staying quiet and polite, and being deferential to her husband and male bosses. When she's suddenly put in a position of ultimate power -- running a crime organization in another country, away from those who expect her to behave in a certain way -- she's finally able to rediscover her voice and see what she's really capable of, in terms of both leadership and acumen.
This is truly what female empowerment is about, and yet the execution misses the mark. Viewers need to buy into Kristen as a woman whose kindness and willingness to step aside to serve others is the problem, not her poor decision-making. But the fact that she prioritizes horny hookups over the magnitude of danger she and her associates are in makes it hard to truly root for or identify with her. And the movie's violence is gruesome at times, which is tonally challenging in a light comedy. Perhaps Hardwicke accomplished her goal: Her female mob film isn't quiet, polite, or deferential. Unfortunately, it's also not good.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the violence in Mafia Mamma. Does it serve the story, or feel excessive?
How does the movie depict female relationships and interactions? How does this compare to other movies you've seen? How does entertainment influence the way that men treat women, how women treat other women, and how women see themselves?
Did you notice any stereotypes in the movie? Why are stereotypes problematic?
What is a "people pleaser"? How can we be kind and helpful to others while also advocating for ourselves?
Movie Details
- In theaters : April 6, 2023
- On DVD or streaming : May 2, 2023
- Cast : Toni Collette , Monica Bellucci , Giulio Corso
- Director : Catherine Hardwicke
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s) , Middle Eastern/North African Movie Writer(s)
- Studio : Bleecker Street
- Genre : Comedy
- Run time : 101 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : bloody violence, sexual content and language
- Last updated : June 22, 2023
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