Not as good as hallmark's usual offerings it had all the elements, just lacked chemistry with the viewer. The lead actress just felt awkward and it took a while to get the hang of the flashbacks. No experienced manager would have an argument with a member of the staff in front of guests. Background sound/music might've been authentic to a kitchen but was a bit loud for dialogue. Fine for one watch but that's enough.
25 Reviews
No romance here
shobbs-8608128 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
If you want believable love or affection between Hallmark leads, look elsewhere. Two thoroughly pre-occupied and self-absorbed people somehow miraculously put their differences aside and decide to look longingly into each other's eyes and slow dance at the ending into a kiss. We don't buy the change or the growth in their characters... we simply rue and resent the loss of 2 hours of our lives watching this.
Another attempt at Italian
MickyG33327 February 2023
6.4 stars.
This film fails to capture the ambience of a rustic Italian restaurant, is slow moving and not engaging. The chemistry between Amy and Frank is somewhat non-existent, whereas their friendship is more believable and practical. I feel she is straining her performance and not interested in playing the part. His personality seems lifeless and dull. It's as if they both delved too deep into their characters and forgot to import some enthusiasm.
The back story of Mama and Papa was interesting although not realistic because their personalities do not transfer from past to present. Mama's past self being a robust, petit, cute and gentle person; changed into a frustrated, sour, voluptuous, matriarch with no spark. Papa simply disappears into the background. Their accents don't jive from past to present, hers being non-existent after a while. There is no convincing the audience of such drastic shifts in character and how things are.
The Mama and Papa history doesn't mesh, the leads don't fit together, there is nothing to root for, not even the hope of a triumphant romantic ending either past or present.
This film fails to capture the ambience of a rustic Italian restaurant, is slow moving and not engaging. The chemistry between Amy and Frank is somewhat non-existent, whereas their friendship is more believable and practical. I feel she is straining her performance and not interested in playing the part. His personality seems lifeless and dull. It's as if they both delved too deep into their characters and forgot to import some enthusiasm.
The back story of Mama and Papa was interesting although not realistic because their personalities do not transfer from past to present. Mama's past self being a robust, petit, cute and gentle person; changed into a frustrated, sour, voluptuous, matriarch with no spark. Papa simply disappears into the background. Their accents don't jive from past to present, hers being non-existent after a while. There is no convincing the audience of such drastic shifts in character and how things are.
The Mama and Papa history doesn't mesh, the leads don't fit together, there is nothing to root for, not even the hope of a triumphant romantic ending either past or present.
This movie might just make you hungry for Italian food...and tiramisu.
cgvsluis1 March 2022
This is a sweet heartwarming story about the origin of an Italian American restaurant in New Jersey. The restaurant is called Mama's and as you can imagine the story starts with Mama and Papa. The contemporary story is about Frank and Amy...Amy who Mama thought of as a granddaughter inherits the restaurant when Mama dies and that is when she meets Frank the current chef at Mama's.
The story is a bit about taking in strays, creating a family, about trust, compromise and taking a chance on someone as a way to spread the love.
My favorite nugget is about writing a letter to someone and how precious that can really be.
This was a little different for a hallmark film, less emphasis on the wooing and more emphasis an the living, just being...and on friendship.
The story is a bit about taking in strays, creating a family, about trust, compromise and taking a chance on someone as a way to spread the love.
My favorite nugget is about writing a letter to someone and how precious that can really be.
This was a little different for a hallmark film, less emphasis on the wooing and more emphasis an the living, just being...and on friendship.
Where's the Pizza?
rebekahrox28 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Isn't there a saying somewhere to "Never eat at a restaurant called "Mama's" ? Or is that "Mom's"?
Long after "Papa" "left us", "Mama" has also passed away and left her restaurant to Amy, a young friend and former manager of another restaurant, whom she used to take care of and mentor. Her will stipulates that Frank, the current head chef, retain his position. Mama's (husky voiced Lorraine Bracco) story is told in flashbacks in between the present day story of trying to save her legacy. Her restaurant was struggling when she retired and it has been in a death spiral under the care of Frank. He was fired from his last job for refusing to comply with his bosses' menu. When Mama agreed to let him be in charge of what he cooked, introducing new dishes to her beloved if tired menu, it didn't exactly overwhelm the critics or the clientele. His answer is to put a noisy arcade game in the dining area as if it were a sports bar. So no Frank isn't exactly God's gift to chefdom or humanity for that matter. But boy, he acts as if he is. When Amy, the new owner comes in to take over, he is uncooperative and pissy. He refuses to follow his boss's (Amy's) orders which got him fired from his last job (he lied to Mama that he had learned his lesson in order to get hired). He also goes behind her back to interview with another restaurant telling his friend he will use his new recipes at Mama's as a testing ground and then leave if he gets the new position. When Amy finds out that Frank wasn't honest about what a flop his creations were with an influential critic, she tells him she is replacing his menu and hands the changes to him. He doesn't even check it out and preps his own menu which causes havoc on the soft opening. In short, Frank is an incompetent louse and not the sharpest knife in the drawer either.
Now you may well ask, why doesn't Amy fire his sorry A**? Why does she fall in love with him? Why is Amy, a qualified manager such a wuss and give him chance after chance? Why is the restaurant called "Mama's Ristorante and Pizzeria" when they don't serve Pizza? Why were Mama and Papa called "Mama" and "Papa" when they didn't have any kids? Ask away, but I'm afraid I can't help you. Now this wasn't all bad. The cinematography was great, the food looked delicious, the acting was tolerable, but the looming shadow of bad Frank was just to much to overcome.
Long after "Papa" "left us", "Mama" has also passed away and left her restaurant to Amy, a young friend and former manager of another restaurant, whom she used to take care of and mentor. Her will stipulates that Frank, the current head chef, retain his position. Mama's (husky voiced Lorraine Bracco) story is told in flashbacks in between the present day story of trying to save her legacy. Her restaurant was struggling when she retired and it has been in a death spiral under the care of Frank. He was fired from his last job for refusing to comply with his bosses' menu. When Mama agreed to let him be in charge of what he cooked, introducing new dishes to her beloved if tired menu, it didn't exactly overwhelm the critics or the clientele. His answer is to put a noisy arcade game in the dining area as if it were a sports bar. So no Frank isn't exactly God's gift to chefdom or humanity for that matter. But boy, he acts as if he is. When Amy, the new owner comes in to take over, he is uncooperative and pissy. He refuses to follow his boss's (Amy's) orders which got him fired from his last job (he lied to Mama that he had learned his lesson in order to get hired). He also goes behind her back to interview with another restaurant telling his friend he will use his new recipes at Mama's as a testing ground and then leave if he gets the new position. When Amy finds out that Frank wasn't honest about what a flop his creations were with an influential critic, she tells him she is replacing his menu and hands the changes to him. He doesn't even check it out and preps his own menu which causes havoc on the soft opening. In short, Frank is an incompetent louse and not the sharpest knife in the drawer either.
Now you may well ask, why doesn't Amy fire his sorry A**? Why does she fall in love with him? Why is Amy, a qualified manager such a wuss and give him chance after chance? Why is the restaurant called "Mama's Ristorante and Pizzeria" when they don't serve Pizza? Why were Mama and Papa called "Mama" and "Papa" when they didn't have any kids? Ask away, but I'm afraid I can't help you. Now this wasn't all bad. The cinematography was great, the food looked delicious, the acting was tolerable, but the looming shadow of bad Frank was just to much to overcome.
Made little sense
teepack-753121 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
This was a big miss. The plot made no sense. Mama left her restaurant to a woman she hasn't spoken to in years and who didn't even know Mama had died until after the funeral. And the chef of the restaurant apparently had no idea she had died, either, and she still owned the restaurant. Besides all that nonsense, the plot seemed stuck in neutral for the first half. They spent the first hour arguing about the menu (she wanted to change it, he wanted to keep it the same even though he was running the restaurant into the ground). Nothing beats doubling down on stupidity. Then after she finally convinces him to go back to Mama's recipes, she changes her mind and decides to go with his menu. You know, the menu that was scaring away customers? Just a big mess. And the exaggerated New York accents didn't help.
Not the usual
krs-9220224 March 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Most people are looking for the normal Hallmark formula but then often those are also complaining about the storyline. There was a lot to the story which made it seem that if written differently it might have made a good series of movies. The flashbacks were what made the story different from the standard movies but those are what would cement the idea of how people could fall for each other in a few weeks time. There needed to be more storyline for the current love interests for the movie to have been great. Overall, a good watch.
Pass this one up.
Avidviewer-028474 March 2022
A bad script, too much nostalgia for "Mama", her recipes and her way of doing things. Too many flashbacks. Leads that don't have chemistry and the rest of the cast didn't seem to click. It didn't hold my attention, there are other better things on TV.
Mama does know best.
ksharpavon27 February 2022
Welcome to boring
hallmarkmov1 March 2022
The commercials didn't seem very exciting and that should have warned me not to bother watching it. No chemistry, boring story, a lot of blah blah blah that went on and on and on. It didn't have a clear storyline. It's over saturated with flash backs and the main characters just didn't capture my attention. There wasn't much cooking, not that much food, a lot of very short overly dramatic problems that were resolved before you even understood the problem! Fine to play in the background while doing other things but not worth watching with your full attention.
A welcome addition to Hallmark movies.
gfrasmd28 February 2022
The movie has its quirks and inconsistencies, as pointed out in previous reviews. As almost always, premises and elements of the plot are not original. Yet, they get a different, fresh spin and the story acquires a dignity of its own. The psychology of the lead characters, Amy and Frank, is more sound than it appears at first look. Here, we have two young people that, confronted with career disillusions and big life choices, react with stubborn attitudes and rush decisions. I do not believe this makes them unlikable or that they "have no chemistry". They are just human, hiding their insecurities, in need to learn from their mistakes.
I find it credible that their initial reciprocal attraction helps them, through necessary skirmishes, find how much they have in common and to like each other. Actually, this makes the story sweet.
The acting is simple, no hamming, no frills. The frequent flash-backs to Mama and Papa life, are, perhaps overused, but do add to understanding the theme of the story and to the content of the movie, rich in values of hard work, tenacity, family and friendship.
One special tribute is owed to the producers for a diligent effort to maintain authenticity. After myriads of movies where the actors totally butcher the pronunciation of the Italian language or substitute it with "Italican"or Spanish, here, finally they have cast actors, Scrofano, Di Tomasso, Babis, and Montesi, who speak the language naturally and correctly.
Overall, a charming movie and a better production than many Hallmark films of late.
I find it credible that their initial reciprocal attraction helps them, through necessary skirmishes, find how much they have in common and to like each other. Actually, this makes the story sweet.
The acting is simple, no hamming, no frills. The frequent flash-backs to Mama and Papa life, are, perhaps overused, but do add to understanding the theme of the story and to the content of the movie, rich in values of hard work, tenacity, family and friendship.
One special tribute is owed to the producers for a diligent effort to maintain authenticity. After myriads of movies where the actors totally butcher the pronunciation of the Italian language or substitute it with "Italican"or Spanish, here, finally they have cast actors, Scrofano, Di Tomasso, Babis, and Montesi, who speak the language naturally and correctly.
Overall, a charming movie and a better production than many Hallmark films of late.
Great Storyline - Great Potential For A Great Film - But Did Not Meet
dorothyexeter27 February 2022
I really enjoyed the story line. This film truly had great potential!
But, I felt that Melanie Scrofano (Amy) held back the quality of this film.
It had great potential, but she did not appear to be "into" this film, which is too bad, since it had potential to get a 9 rating from me. Her acting did not appear to be genuine. She seemed to simply make statements. Her body language including facial expressions did not match her statements.
The transitioning back and forth from the origins of Mama's to now, could have been done so that it was easier to follow ... perhaps not as many transitions with longer sessions so that the original mama and papa could be clearly seen and understood. Eg: When did papa disappear? What happened to him? When did Amy leave Mama's? Etc.
Unlike what some reviewers had stated about Daniel di Tomasso (Frank Rossi), I felt that he played his part well. More details about the transition and blending of both he and Melanie (Amy) should have been included to better display how they bettered the new Mama's and how their romantic relationship grew.
But, I felt that Melanie Scrofano (Amy) held back the quality of this film.
It had great potential, but she did not appear to be "into" this film, which is too bad, since it had potential to get a 9 rating from me. Her acting did not appear to be genuine. She seemed to simply make statements. Her body language including facial expressions did not match her statements.
The transitioning back and forth from the origins of Mama's to now, could have been done so that it was easier to follow ... perhaps not as many transitions with longer sessions so that the original mama and papa could be clearly seen and understood. Eg: When did papa disappear? What happened to him? When did Amy leave Mama's? Etc.
Unlike what some reviewers had stated about Daniel di Tomasso (Frank Rossi), I felt that he played his part well. More details about the transition and blending of both he and Melanie (Amy) should have been included to better display how they bettered the new Mama's and how their romantic relationship grew.
Undercooked, bland recipe
TheLittleSongbird30 March 2023
Films centered around food and the culinary world is not a new thing for Hallmark, but there are plenty of their films that did this setting and concept really well in an entertaining and easy to relate to manner. Despite not being novel, the idea for 'Welcome to Mama's' was a lovely one and had real potential to be light hearted and heart-warming. Which has been the case with most of the previous 2022 Hallmark films (though there have already been stinkers), even with the serious-themed ones.
'Welcome to Mama's' just didn't come together properly for me. It was not the light hearted and heart-warming film it intended to be, or at least certainly to begin with it wasn't, and was a case of having the right ingredients but not using them very well and not doing enough with them. There are good things and it is not the worst 2022 Hallmark film up to this point, that's between 'Cut, Color and Murder' and 'Butlers in Love' with 'Where the Heart Belongs' not far off. But it is no 'North to Home', 'The Wedding Veil' or 'Presence of Love'. Of the three Loveuary films, 'Welcome to Mama's' is the weakest.
Am going to begin with the good. Lorraine Bracco brings some welcome zest whenever she appears and, while not liking his character to begin, Daniel DiTomasso does easy going charm very well and always looked natural.
The production values also look lovely, loved the look of the setting and it is a nicely shot film. The momentum does pick up a little going into the final third and it was nice seeing some Italian culture.
Melanie Scrofano however didn't do it for me, she is very stiff throughout and it didn't look as though her heart was in it. She and DiTomasso agreed do not have any spark together and come over as too antagonistic towards each other and both characters are sketchily developed. While disliking his character at first, coming over as a jerk, his character at least grew and relaxed, but Scrofano's did not making her a lot more difficult to warm to. The cast chemistry is disconnected and the direction feels very routine throughout.
Did find the dialogue very awkward sounding and cheesy throughout and the banter is overused and goes too far on the hostility that it becomes mean spirited. The story is dull (especially the first act which was a slog in almost every way) and predictable and the charm and heart are not there. Also found that it took itself too seriously for any light hearted-ness to come through and the conflict is very contrived and phony. The ending felt too pat.
Overall, lacklustre. 4/10.
'Welcome to Mama's' just didn't come together properly for me. It was not the light hearted and heart-warming film it intended to be, or at least certainly to begin with it wasn't, and was a case of having the right ingredients but not using them very well and not doing enough with them. There are good things and it is not the worst 2022 Hallmark film up to this point, that's between 'Cut, Color and Murder' and 'Butlers in Love' with 'Where the Heart Belongs' not far off. But it is no 'North to Home', 'The Wedding Veil' or 'Presence of Love'. Of the three Loveuary films, 'Welcome to Mama's' is the weakest.
Am going to begin with the good. Lorraine Bracco brings some welcome zest whenever she appears and, while not liking his character to begin, Daniel DiTomasso does easy going charm very well and always looked natural.
The production values also look lovely, loved the look of the setting and it is a nicely shot film. The momentum does pick up a little going into the final third and it was nice seeing some Italian culture.
Melanie Scrofano however didn't do it for me, she is very stiff throughout and it didn't look as though her heart was in it. She and DiTomasso agreed do not have any spark together and come over as too antagonistic towards each other and both characters are sketchily developed. While disliking his character at first, coming over as a jerk, his character at least grew and relaxed, but Scrofano's did not making her a lot more difficult to warm to. The cast chemistry is disconnected and the direction feels very routine throughout.
Did find the dialogue very awkward sounding and cheesy throughout and the banter is overused and goes too far on the hostility that it becomes mean spirited. The story is dull (especially the first act which was a slog in almost every way) and predictable and the charm and heart are not there. Also found that it took itself too seriously for any light hearted-ness to come through and the conflict is very contrived and phony. The ending felt too pat.
Overall, lacklustre. 4/10.
Zero Chemistry
therusticapothecary28 February 2022
I adore Lorraine Bracco but not in this environment. The back and forth between present and past was fine, but the main leads had zero chemistry. Their personalities clashed, and the story was stale. This one fell flat for me, definitely not a rewatch.
Bad start
Jackbv12327 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
Frank is a total jerk and his talent is questionable as well. He softens up as the movie progresses, but so much personality change seems unlikely.
Amy isn't as offensive, but she doesn't start out as very appealing either. It doesn't help that she starts out imposing her own system in a place where everyone else is already established. What's more of a problem is that Amy is supposed to be an experienced restaurant manager. This woman seems completely lost with common management issues.
The premise is a variation of the shared inheritance trope. It incorporates a lot of flashbacks to when Mama and Papa were young and starting out. Also some flashbacks of Mama with Amy and Mama with Frank. We learn about Amy's unfortunate parting of ways. A lot is going on in the story and for me it wasn't coordinated very well. The result seems a bit choppy.
I thought the scene that created the breach between Frank and Amy was ridiculous. If this had been done a bit more reasonably, it might have made for a strong finish but instead totally turned me off.
Amy isn't as offensive, but she doesn't start out as very appealing either. It doesn't help that she starts out imposing her own system in a place where everyone else is already established. What's more of a problem is that Amy is supposed to be an experienced restaurant manager. This woman seems completely lost with common management issues.
The premise is a variation of the shared inheritance trope. It incorporates a lot of flashbacks to when Mama and Papa were young and starting out. Also some flashbacks of Mama with Amy and Mama with Frank. We learn about Amy's unfortunate parting of ways. A lot is going on in the story and for me it wasn't coordinated very well. The result seems a bit choppy.
I thought the scene that created the breach between Frank and Amy was ridiculous. If this had been done a bit more reasonably, it might have made for a strong finish but instead totally turned me off.
Were we watching the same movie?
psd-6151411 March 2022
Once again, when I read the scathing reviews to some of the Hallmark movies, I shake my head. I love watching Hallmark movies because they are entertaining. I don't go to bed and have nightmares because of violence, language, etc. I have said before in a review that there is so much negativity from some reviewers that I should stop reading them. And here I am again
commenting on that negativity. Of course we all
have and are entitled to our own opinions. My opinion of this movie is that it is well acted, fairly easy to follow the flashbacks and a well written ending. Good chemistry was evident in how the story ended. Very believable ( to me ) that they were falling in love. Once again I encourage the negative Nancy viewers to find more joy. I applaud Hallmark for giving us an enjoyable escape from wars, pandemics and politics.
Bad
drbreakwell27 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
A woman quits her job and suddenly inherits with a man a restaurant that was special to her when she was a young girl. First sanitary rules are that anyone in a commercial kitchen wears head covering. Second, when cleaning the dining room, there is still food in the display case, a big no no. And while cleaning, the kitchen staff is bringing out food, when the restaurant is closed. Then she shows the "chef" looks at recipes in the rain and mentions that in 1972 the restaurant opened 50 years ago "this" year. Anyone who can do math can figure it out. Why couldn't the script person figure that the dialogue needed to change this line. And I don't know any restsurant that would have a video game in the dining room, it would very found in a bar. And music from the 50's would not have inspired mama, music from 1972 would be the inspiration. Another Hallmark poor excuse for a movie.
boring boring boring
taylornan090910 March 2022
Really loved this movie
homesweetbrickell1 March 2022
I didn't know what to expect with this movie, as I don't usually love the formulaic Hallmark movie. I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised with this one. The two leads felt like real people to me. They each had flaws that they gradually overcame with each other's help (Mama and her cookbook helped too but I don't want to give anything away) . It was a tender story with some fun humor and I thought the production did a great job of capturing the restaurant and food. I thought the whole cast was great, the performances were subtle and very realistic and by the end I was really shipping Frank and Amy. I'm also impressed with how far Hallmark went with trying to tell an authentic story. The main cast is Italian and I totally believed that as part of their cultural identity. Sure, some of the conflict towards the end seemed a bit contrived, but it's totally forgivable as, overall, this movie greatly exceeded my expectations. I'd recommend for anyone looking for fun and easy viewing with heart.
Sweet nostalgia
suzanne-iovaldi13 March 2022
I'm surprised by these reviews so had to one. I really enjoyed this one - the acting and the fact they were fresh faces, the old school Italian restaurant that felt authentic, and all around something a bit different. Really lovely and enjoyable.
Cute Movie
mjpatterson-2008519 March 2022
Very sweet story!
juegaconbubalu27 February 2022
The best movie ever!
nffmagazine27 February 2022
Warning: Spoilers
I think this movie was great! I was very surprised how real the acting was, warming and this saddle sense of humor was perfect. The main characters were fantastic, A lot of chemistry. I think they did a great job with the casting of this movie fresh faces of solid actors. I was super engaged from the beginning. Definitely I will watch it again and recommend it.
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