A scene from ‘You, Me & Tuscany’

You, Me & Tuscany review: A delectable fantasy

‘You, Me & Tuscany’ is a typical rom-com that overcomes its predictability with an amusing journey to happily ever after.

Dropping everything to fly off to another country on a whim is just a fantasy for most people. Responsibilities and other constraints prevent most of us from living the dream. But should you have the chance to travel, exploring a new place is exciting. Experiencing everything an unfamiliar location has to offer is the key to getting the most out of a trip. The best way to immerse yourself in a foreign culture is through its food. In You, Me & Tuscany, a young woman escapes to Italy when things at home fall apart.

Anna (Halle Bailey) takes her housesitting duties a little too literally, resulting in an awkward confrontation and swift firing. While eating her feelings in a hotel bar, she meets Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor). He wows her with pictures of his villa in Tuscany, encouraging her to take her dream trip. With nothing holding her down, she books her ticket. Then, with nowhere to stay, she decides to crash at his empty villa. But when Matteo’s family finds her intruding, she avoids arrest by letting them believe she’s his fiancée. His family is wonderful, but the lie soon stands in the way of a potentially real romance with his cousin-brother, Michael (Regé-Jean Page).

The film follows the old school rom-com formula. Anna is running away from her emotions by living vicariously through her employers and avoiding planning for the future. When she and Michael meet, they immediately irritate each other. But it’s not long before they’re constantly making googly eyes at each other, even though her fake engagement means they can’t be together. Of course, the truth will set them free. But there’s always something — generally cowardice — to prevent Anna from coming clean.

Matteo and Michael’s relatives all have big, Italian personalities that make each interaction with them distinctly comedic. Their sister, Francesca (Stella Pecollo), is the loudest and funniest, whether she’s being sincere or cheeky. Their younger brother, Enzo (Tommaso Cassissa), is glued to his phone. The wannabe influencer is always filming everything, while completely missing all the excitement around him. Their father, Vincenzo (Marco Calvani), yearns for someone to love the family’s restaurant as much as him, while mother, Gabriella (Isabella Ferrari), dotes excessively on her favourite boys. Conversely, Nonna Alessia (Stefania Casini) is quiet, but always watching suspiciously from the sidelines. Anna finds her own ally and confidante shortly after her arrival. Lorenzo (Marco Calvani) is the ideal best friend: understanding, optimistic and always there for you with a sandwich but not judgement.

Being predictable and fun are not mutually exclusive. It doesn’t matter that the moment sparks fly between Michael and Anna, it’s obvious they’ll be together by the end of the movie. Or that when Anna walks into Vincenzo’s kitchen, it’s clear her culinary skills will be put to use sooner than later. The journey to these predictable destinations is lighthearted, entertaining fluff.

The film is not exactly a travelogue, but it does highlight Italy’s best assets: incredible food and breathtaking landscapes. The meals are consistently made with fresh ingredients from the local market. They cook with passion, and everyone eats and drinks with gusto. Food is a way of life and they live it to the fullest. Every morning begins with a sun rise over a beautiful horizon. They take drives through the countryside and romp through massive vineyards. The overall aesthetic is simple, rustic, friendly… and rich.

It’s kind of annoying when romantic comedies feature wealthy people — or, more specifically, wealthy people falling in love with broke people. The family owns large villas, the city’s oldest restaurant, a successful vineyard, and they drive a vintage roadster and Maserati. On the other hand, Anna is behind on her rent and drains her savings to fund her trip.

Nonetheless, the pair make a cute couple. Page is an established Bridgerton hottie, radiating good looks and exuding charisma. The occasional glimpse of his eight-pack is a bonus. Conversely, this is Halle’s step into a more mature narrative. Her character is still youthful, but she’s making grown-up choices. She still bats her big doe eyes to get her way, but her real appeal is the sincerity she brings to her performance.

Director: Kat Coiro
Starring: Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page and Lorenzo de Moor

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