Mafia Mamma

Part screwball comedy, part Mob-movie pastiche, this unlikely yarn stars Toni Collette as a timid, put-upon American wife and mother who is installed as the head of a crime syndicate following the death of her grandfather. While attending his funeral in Italy, she finds herself in the midst of a bloody war between rival families and forced to broker peace while dodging bullets and other grisly assassination attempts. Director Catherine Hardwicke's broad gagfest won't win any awards for subtlety, but there's a lot to like among the sharp script, outlandish characters and intermittent references to The Godfather - not least Collette constantly admitting she's never seen the 1970s classic ("It's really hard to find three-and-a-half hours"). Collette's comic timing is exemplary, and Monica Bellucci shines as the Cosa Nostra's ultra-cool consigliere, but a few faint-hearted viewers may be shocked by some of the more over-the-top violence.