“Mafia Mamma” is shaping up to be a strong possibility for the least enjoyable film of 2023. This shallow comedy, directed by Catherine Hardwicke, gives the impression that it was developed through consensus among suburban mothers, featuring an absurd storyline attempting to appear modern and provocative. It's genuinely awful and an utter loss of time unless you have extremely lenient standards when selecting what to watch. Like many women, American mother Kristin (Toni Collette) is juggling numerous responsibilities. She manages her household while coping with the emotional strain of her son leaving for college and discovering her husband’s infidelity. Her life takes a turn when she receives an unexpected phone call containing a startling revelation: she has inherited her grandfather's mafia empire in Italy. Under the guidance of the organization’s advisor (Monica Bellucci), Kristin must find the confidence to lead this (mafia) family business. To be fair, the concept of someone out of their element is promising. The basic story idea works well enough, but the actual creation of it falls apart. Even though they seem to be aiming for broad appeal, the script by Amanda Sthers, J. Michael Feldman, and Debbie Jhoon feels like a constant struggle to stay afloat. The writing underestimates the audience's intelligence, and the plot includes silly situations that resemble someone’s sad fantasy—the worst of which is a handsome local man (Giulio Corso) who instantly falls for Kristin upon her arrival in Rome, along with an obvious “surprise” that can be anticipated long before it happens. It also relies on tired Italian stereotypes and desperately tries to be a "different kind of comedy," resulting in an R rating due to violent scenes and excessive profanity. Even more disappointing is Collette’s performance, which comes across as exaggerated and overly dramatic. Her portrayal of the familiar goofy, naive American persona feels forced, bordering on a distorted representation of a real person. Kristin becomes a ridiculous figure, even within a film attempting (without much success) to portray female empowerment. It's a regrettable misuse of Collette’s abilities; she is clearly capable of so much more. I struggle to find anything redeeming about “Mafia Mamma.” Even someone you dislike deserves something better than this.

Source on TMDB