A fresh take on romantic comedies, You, Me & Tuscany showcases beautiful vistas and historic dwellings while promising a great deal of hilarity.
Anna (Halle Bailey) lives in New York. When not house-sitting, she has nowhere to stay. One night at a bar where her friend works, she meets an Italian man named Matteo, who tells her about the villa he owns in Italy but laments that he's rarely there due to his constant business travel. He shows her plenty of photos of the stunning property and shares stories about his wonderful family.
As fate would have it, Anna had planned to travel to Italy with her mother after graduating from culinary school. However, she quit two months before graduation following her mother's death. She has held onto the ticket her mother bought for her but struggles to face the idea of going without her. Matteo encourages her to go, noting that she currently lacks a job or a place to stay.
On a whim, she travels to Tuscany, only to discover that a festival is taking place, leaving all the hotels fully booked. Dejected, she wonders if she can stay at Matteo's empty villa, convincing herself that he practically invited her. With no other options, she makes her way there and finds that despite its age, the villa is fully renovated and furnished. Anna makes herself at home, even looking through some drawers, where she finds an engagement ring and tries it on.
At just that moment, two women enter the house with mops and cleaning supplies. They turn out to be Matteo's mother and grandmother, or nonna. Although initially taken aback, his mother Gabriella is thrilled when she sees the engagement ring on Anna's hand. Anna knows enough about the family to address them by name, and although Nonna is suspicious (and not entirely pleased to be called "Nonna" by a complete stranger), Anna is welcomed warmly by the rest of the family.
With no family of her own, Anna feels a warmth emanating from these new connections. When she meets Matteo's cousin Michael, she realizes he's the man who bought the sandwich she wanted at a local bistro and isn't keen on giving him a second chance, but he slowly starts to grow on her as she discovers his good qualities.
As Michael starts to develop feelings for her, Anna is unsure of what to do. Everyone assumes she's engaged to Matteo, a man she briefly met who has no idea she's staying at his villa. Should she come clean? Or just enjoy her time in Italy, then make a quick exit?
The premise is cute and fun, as Anna has a lot to lose if she comes clean, but also a lot to lose if she doesn't. Halle Bailey is adorable as Anna, making it clear to see why Michael and the rest of the family would fall for her. Regé-Jean Page, whom you might recognize from the first season of Bridgerton, is charming and handsome, making it easy to understand Anna's almost instant attraction to him.
The supporting cast is a delight, with Isabelle Ferrari exuding warmth and kindness as Gabriella, and Stefani Cassini portraying Nonna with depth, avoiding overacting while allowing her character to evolve as she gets to know Anna.
You, Me & Tuscany runs 1 hour and 44 minutes — a perfect length for a rom-com — and makes for a very entertaining experience at the movies. ~Alexandra Heilbron
4 out of 5 stars.
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