What do a crimesolving nun, a runaway princess, a foodie billionaire and a couple of adventurous sea monsters have in common? It’s no joke. They all drive Vespas.
This little scooter is a bit out of the ordinary for a nun, and let’s face it, a crown princess on a Vespa is quite unusual. A Greek billionaire’s son might be driving a Rolls Royce, but, in this case he’s maneuvering through the streets on a Vespa. A few Italian “kids” driving a Vespa is not so strange, but the scooter is a hallmark of the fantasy film Luca.
Sister Boniface Mysteries (BritBox/PBS)
The third season of Sister Boniface Mysteries is now streaming on BritBox (and will come later on PBS stations). This crime-fighting nun is so popular that a 4th season has already been announced.
What makes Sister Boniface a beloved character is her wit, enthusiasm, some sarcasm, adorable expressions, and the fact that she arrives at crime scenes on a Vespa. That’s something you don’t see every day.
In a campaign to introduce the second season of the series, Sister Boniface (Lorna Watson) rode through the streets of London along with a group of nuns all riding on vintage Vespas.
What a sight that would have been for commuters as they watched nuns dressed in their habits maneuvering through London, around Big Ben and the London Eye.
With her adorable style as well as her intelligence, Sister Boniface has been a valuable asset to the local police and continues to do so. Her scientific expertise comes in handy and she often sees clues the police miss. She is a character that has been embraced by both men and women.
A Greek Recipe for Romance (2024: Hallmark Movies Now)
The Hallmark Channel’s A Greek Recipe for Romance is more about the food than it is about romance, however they do get to that in the end.
Theo’s (Rafael Kariotakis) dream is to open his own restaurant, however his billionaire father wants him to come into the family business. But Theo sticks to his dream and, with the help of a gutsy can-do American named Abby (Danielle C. Ryan), he just might turn his dream into reality.
They have a “meet cute” moment when his Vespa blocks her mother’s car, and from there they keep meeting in various situations. Finally they team up and manage to get his restaurant up and running, without the financing of his billionaire father, who is the Aristotle Onassis of today.
Scooting around the Greek streets on his Vespa is just the right touch to make him endearing to viewers. And the Greek scenery is magnificent. Who needs an Aston Martin, a Rolls Royce, or a Bentley, when you can scoot around on a Vespa!
Roman Holiday (1953: Amazon Prime, Paramount+)
Anne (Audrey Hepburn) is a crown princess on an official tour of Europe. She knows her duty but it doesn’t seem fair to her that she cannot be just a regular girl once in awhile. So what does she do? Anne escapes and has a grand time discovering the joys of Rome without the constraints of her title.
Anne cuts her hair, is befriended by a couple of newspaper men who do not identify themselves as the press, and the three of them have a fun adventure through the streets of Rome. The title says it all. Anne had a once-in-a lifetime Roman holiday.
But some things are too good to last, and Anne soon realizes her duty to her family and her country. She returns to her royal life but with a new perspective on things.
Having driven a Vespa through the streets of Rome, explored the city with her new friends, and escaped from the restraints of her station in life, even if it was just for a few days, gave her an emotional boost and when she returned to her official role, she did so with a little sparkle in her eye and many great memories.
But duty and responsibility won out over carefree days and no constraints. Good-bye Vespa, hello chauffeur.
Luca (2021: PG Disney+, Prime Video, Movies Anywhere, other platforms)
This animated film is the story of two young sea monsters who long for adventure on land. When they are wet they are scaly, and, when they are dry they look just like the other humans in the Italian town of Portorosso.
When Luca first tries his luck at being on land, he meets Alberto, another sea monster who has perfected the life of being human. The two new besties are fascinated by the scooters in town. According to Alberto, the Vespa is “the greatest thing that humans ever made.”
Luca dreams of riding a Vespa. After meeting a young girl named Giulia, the trio decide to enter the Portorosso Cup Triathlon to win the prize money. With it they intend to buy their very own Vespa. Up until now they have “MacGyvered” a replica out of spare parts. The thing is, it just isn’t a Vespa. And it falls apart easily.
The fun of the triathlon comes into play as the races include swimming, eating pasta, and riding a bike through the town. With the whole town out to hunt sea monsters, they cannot get wet or they will revert to their underwater scaly bodies.
In the end the people finally discover that sea monsters are not evil, and they all become friends. And Luca gets his chance at learning all about the wonderful world above the water.
Image: Sister Boniface Mysteries/BritBox
Francine Brokaw is a longtime journalist, covering entertainment, product reviews and travel, and is the host of Beyond the Red Carpet on Village Television and YouTube.
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