Mafia Mamma review: Toni Collette shines in a fish-out-of-water mob comedy

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. Director Catherine Hardwicke (Twilight, Thirteen) wisely keeps her camera trained on Collette, Bellucci, and some great Italian vistas, and leans into Michael J. Feldman and Debbie Jhoon’s at-times surprisingly dark script. Kristin’s kills are ultra-violent, and Hardwicke doesn’t cut away, which both helps sell the fear factor among her enemies and underlings and serves to amplify the jokes, notably, “Bits of his scrotum were in his eye socket.”

Of course, we also get the requisite fish-out-of-water quips, sexual innuendos, grape-picking and stomping scenes, dull-to-glam makeover sequences, and multiple Godfather references. Try not to laugh when Kristin asks, “Is that a cannoli in your pocket?” or when Kristin tries on a spinsterish outfit, prompting someone to remark, “You look like a librarian from a library… and not a porno.” And, speaking of requisites, let’s not forget the loyal best friend back home—in this case, Jenny (a winsome Sophia Nomvete)—whom you just know will turn up later, when it really counts.

Mafia Mamma will not be remembered at Oscars time. Hell, you’ll mostly forget about it by the time you get back to your car. It should have been better, with more dimensionality for several supporting characters (particularly Bianca) and more (and sharper) jokes, as well as fewer clichés, stereotypes, and predictable scenes. And, not one single moment of it even remotely resembles reality. Still, it’s stupid-silly and breezy fun, with a welcome feminist spin, and a committed, top-tier performance from Collette. All hail the Godmother.