This Underrated Crime Comedy Is the Closest We'll Ever Get to a 'Sopranos' Reunion Movie

Over two decades after its run on HBO came to an end with that controversial series finale , The Sopranos is still regarded as one of the greatest shows ever made. Although many of the actors had other memorable roles afterward, such as when Edie Falco starred in Nurse Jackie , we never got a reunion with our favorite characters. The closest thing was a prequel feature film, 2021's The Many Saints of Newark , starring Michael Gandolfini , the son of James Gandolfini , as a young Tony Soprano. Last year, HBO released the excellent documentary, Wise Guy: David Chase and The Sopranos , and although that offered significant insight into the series, it wasn't the same as a reunion.

Still, did you know we sort of did get a Sopranos reunion movie? In 2013, Steven R. Schrirripa , Vincent Curatola , Tony Sirico , and Michael Imperioli reunited for a Nickelodeon film called Nicky Deuce . Based on two novels by Schirripa, it parodies mobster movies from a funny, family angle. In it, we get to see so many of our favorite Sopranos actors together again , but the biggest joy is seeing James Gandolfini. Nicky Deuce came out just one month before his untimely death in June 2013.

Steven Schrippipa Wrote Two Books About Nicky Deuce

Steven R. Schirripa, despite being an actor since the early '90s, will always be best known for his role as Bobby Baccalieri on The Sopranos . He appeared in 53 episodes of the series, with Bobby rising up through the ranks to become one of Tony's best friends and confidants, as well as being his brother-in-law. In a series filled with bad guys, it's easy to love Schirripa's Bobby because he comes across as a genuinely good person. He doesn't kill people like everyone else does, and would rather just be happy and play with his model trains. His only major flaw is that he's too loyal to the people he loves, no matter the bad things they do. It leads to one of the saddest deaths in The Sopranos when he's whacked in a hobby store in the final season.

Schirripa has continued to promote The Sopranos many years after its ending, through interviews on talk shows and even his podcast, Talking Sopranos , which he co-hosted with Michael Imperioli. Schirripa wears the mob trope proudly, having written books like A Goomba's Guide to Life , The Goomba's Book of Love , and The Goomba Diet: Large and Loving It . He's also taken a spin with fiction, co-writing two young adult books with Charles Fleming called Nicky Deuce: Welcome to the Family and Nicky Deuce: Home for the Holidays .

'Nicky Deuce' Was a Nickelodeon Family Film Starring Noah Munck

The books were popular enough to lead to Nickelodeon making a movie based on them in 2013 called Nicky Deuce . Looking at what the books and film are about, you can see why it would interest a young crowd who has little experience with the mafia crime genre. The story follows a kid named Nicholas Borelli who is sent to live with his grandmother for two weeks in Brooklyn. Although Nicholas' Italian father doesn't come across as that trope at all (the guy's a vegan!), young Nick's eyes are opened up to parts of his culture he never knew about. He also starts hanging out with his Uncle Frankie (Schirripa), who gives him the nickname Nicky Deuce .

In the film, Nicky is played by Noah Munck from another Nickelodeon offering, the series iCarly . Co-starring is Cristine Prosperi , known to the younger crowd for the TeenNick series Open Heart . There are some stellar veteran names as well, with Rita Moreno as Nicky's grandma, Tutti, but what Nicky Deuce is best remembered for is being a Sopranos reunion. With Uncle Frankie working for the mafia, Nick is introduced to a wide ensemble, and many of them are former Sopranos stars , either playing versions of themselves from the series or wild new characters.

Nicholas ends up doing a job for a mobster named Paulie, played by Vincent Curalota , who played Johnny Sacks on the iconic HBO show . Tony Sirico is here too, as another mafia member named Charlie Cement, as is Michael Imperioli, not at all playing a Sopranos -like character but a villainous mad doctor scientist type known only as The Doctor. With his wild hair and glasses, this guy is nothing like Christopher Moltisanti.

James Gandolfini's Cameo in 'Nicky Deuce' Is One of His Last Roles

The best moment of Nicky Deuce , and easily the most emotional, is James Gandolfini's cameo when he appears in a scene as a guy named Bobby Eggs. It'll make you smile to see Gandolfini again, but perhaps cause you to shed some tears as well, because the Emmy-winning actor passed away from a heart attack just three weeks after the movie's debut at the age of 51.

Still, it's a joy to see him, especially as he's playing against type . It would have been so easy to cast him as the mob boss type, but instead, Bobby Eggs is the exact opposite. Nicky and his friend Tommy ( Cassius Crieghtney ) are sent to Bobby's house to collect a debt for Paulie. Nicky and Tommy are scared out of their minds , and although Bobby isn't intimidated at all, he soon becomes the scared one after a series of misunderstandings. Nicky accidentally hits Bobby with the front door, then the refrigerator door, before sending Bobby tumbling to the ground. Unable to take the beating he thinks he's getting any longer, Bobby immediately pays up. It's silly, yes, but it's James Gandolfini having fun and doing a favor for his friend.

In 2013, Steven Schirripa spoke about Nicky Deuce with Conan O'Brien on his TBS talk show, Conan , telling the host, "It's the closest thing to a Sopranos reunion as there's ever gonna be. It's a kids' movie. If you're a Sopranos fan, you're gonna love it." Now, Nicky Deuce is nowhere near the quality of one of the most revered TV shows ever made. That's impossible. It's a fun movie for kids about the importance of family and forgiveness that might make them laugh and bore adults a little, but it's also the perfect introduction to the world of The Sopranos for those not old enough to experience it. For those of us who have, seeing the gang back together one more time is worth all of its flaws.