The sun-drenched countryside of Tuscany isn’t a bad place to find oneself when life feels directionless. In Kat Coiro (It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia Season 13, She-Hulk: Attorney at Law), executive producer Ryan Engle, and associate producer Kristin Engle’s charming and upbeat romantic comedy, You, Me & Tuscany, Halle Bailey’s Anna embarks on a charming journey of self-discovery that is as entertaining as it is heartwarming, even when it’s leaning into familiar tropes of the romantic-comedy genre.
Grieving the recent loss of her mother, aspiring chef Anna bounces from one housesitting job to another, trying on the lives of her clients while avoiding building her own. Her only friend and confidant, Claire (Aziza Scott), encourages her to return to the kitchen to follow in her mother’s footsteps, but Anna finds the idea of cooking without her mother by her side painful. Not only has she abandoned her career ambitions, but she has also abandoned her plans of galivanting across Italy.
As fate would have it, she meets the handsome and successful Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor) at a hotel bar, and not only is he from Italy, but he also owns a beautiful villa in Tuscany. A series of misunderstandings not only leads to Anna living in the villa for a week, but when she meets Matteo’s mother, Gabriella (Isabella Ferrari), she assumes that her prodigal son has sent his fiancée to meet his family. As Anna grows closer to Matteo’s family, sparks begin to fly between her and Matteo’s cousin, Michael (Regé-Jean Page).
Discussion
You, Me & Tuscany is a delightfully entertaining romantic comedy that takes several cues from its successors in the subgenre. Mistaken identity? Check. Enemies-to-lovers? Check. A heroine who learns to embrace her dreams and desires after a hijinks-filled journey of self-discovery? Check. While the film will remind viewers of romantic comedy classics like Jon Turteltaub, Daniel G. Sullivan, and Fredrick Lebow’s While You Were Sleeping and Anne Fletcher and Peter Chiarelli’s The Proposal, that actually works in the film’s favor. It’s now trying to reinvent the wheel, and many audience members will likely find that refreshing.
The Lead Roles
Bailey’s natural charm makes Anna a character you want to root for immediately. She’s trying to find her footing after a significant loss, and while she’s often a complete mess, her heart is always in the right place. When Anna learns that Matteo left home after a devastating argument with his father, she takes it upon herself to help mend the fractured relationship, even if it means maintaining the fake engagement when Matteo unexpectedly shows up to confront her about commandeering his villa, only to discover the positive impact she’s had on his family.
The characterization of Page’s Michael is standard to the subgenre. He’s hardworking, wounded, and snarky in a way that is initially off-putting to the heroine until she realizes there’s more to him. Predictably, Michael and Anna’s growing feelings for each other throw a wrench in the fake engagement story she has concocted. Page is no stranger to romantic comedies thanks to his winning performance during the first season of Netflix’s smash hit, Bridgerton. He slips into the role of swoonworthy male lead like a well-worn glove. As usual, the actor performs entertainingly and charmingly.
Supporting Roles
Another standout element of the film is its lively and well-utilized supporting cast. Lorenzo (Marco Calvani), a wise and perpetually hungry cab driver, takes an immediate liking to Anna and becomes an unexpected confidant during her time in Tuscany. Then there’s Matteo’s sister, Francesca (Stella Pecollo), whose compulsive need to confess her sins to Anna leads to a string of hilarious and memorable one-liners. Rounding things out is Scott’s Claire, whose blunt, no-nonsense, and often hilariously vulgar advice grounds Anna in reality while adding an extra layer of comedic bite to the film.
Final Thoughts on You, Me & Tuscany
When all is said and done, You, Me & Tuscany is pure escapism, an entertaining love letter to the subgenre and the films that came before it. With its charming leads, hilarious supporting cast, and breathtaking, sun-drenched views of Tuscany, it’s easy to get swept up in its romance. It’s a reminder that a film doesn’t have to reinvent the wheel to win audiences over; it just has to do what it does well.
Kat Coiro, Ryan Engle, and Kristin Engle’s You, Me & Tuscany is now playing in theaters!
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