Film Review – You, Me & Tuscany (2026)

      You, Me & Tuscany, 2026.

      Directed by Kat Coiro.

      Featuring Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page, Marco Calvani, Aziza Scott, Lorenzo de Moor, Isabella Ferrari, Nia Vardalos, Stefania Casini, Desirée Popper, Tommaso Cassissa, Stella Pecollo, Paolo Sassanelli, Emanuele Pacca, Giulia Agosta, and Luca Setaccioli.

      SYNOPSIS:

      When a woman arrives at an empty villa in Italy, pretending to be the fiancée of the owner, she unexpectedly finds romance that could change her life. Though filled with family dynamics, delicious food, and picturesque Italian landscapes, it's disappointing—and perhaps unsurprising—that director Kat Coiro resorts to overused clichés in the predictable rom-com You, Me & Tuscany (written by Ryan and Kristin Engle, who claim it as an original concept, a rather dubious assertion given its numerous tropes). This leads to a reliance on stale themes, resulting in the introduction of an alternative romantic interest, making the characters start to reiterate discussions and life challenges that were already revealed 20 minutes earlier.

      Watching this film feels akin to viewing a streaming movie that persistently circles back to its character and plot elements (possibly it was initially intended for streaming before Universal opted for a theatrical release). The narrative is already tiresome and foreseeable, revolving around placing attractive individuals together, often with a man showing off his physique in a chaotic family backdrop, and seeing what unfolds. It's challenging to invest in the outcomes since the actors listed on the poster may as well be a spoiler for the film's conclusion. Additionally, a significant portion of the film feels aimless and disengaging; it appears to lack direction until a character eventually resurfaces.

      In fact, the film's most engaging moments revolve around the various Italian dishes prepared by the enterprising family at its center. The protagonist, Anna, portrayed by Halle Bailey—once an aspiring chef who lost her passion while caring for her terminally ill mother—now bounces between unsatisfying house-sitting assignments, seemingly having given up on her dreams due to her inability to cook without succumbing to tears over her loss. One may also question how this all connects to Tuscany or how she arrives there.

      This movie features two meet-cutes, starting with a charming encounter between Anna and Matteo, played by Lorenzo de Moor, a man who abandon his family's business and Italy for a more fulfilling life in America. An heir to that business, Matteo left without explanation, leaving his home unoccupied. Before they part ways, he encourages Anna to reconnect with her passions, even suggesting she take a leap of faith and travel to Italy despite her financial constraints.

      It's arguable that labeling Anna as “mistake-prone” is overly generous; she not only travels there but also neglects to research a cultural summer festival that resulted in every hotel being fully booked. Her next move (notably, every suggestion or decision she makes is met with strong opposition from her pregnant best friend Claire, played by Aziza Scott, who primarily communicates through texts) involves taking a cramped, cheap taxi driven by a friendly driver (Marco Calvani), who seems more interested in hearing about her troubles (often while pulling out a tasty-looking sandwich or mentioning his plumber friend Luigi, reflecting the screenplay's weak humor) than anyone watching. She directs that taxi to Matteo's unoccupied villa, squatting there before unwittingly finding herself forced to impersonate his nonexistent fiancée using a wedding ring she discovers when Matteo's family unexpectedly shows up and, naturally, nearly has her arrested before spotting the ring on her finger.

      Furthermore, the second meet-cute, which is slightly hostile, occurs when she interacts with Michael, played by Regé-Jean Page, a caretaker of the villa and surrounding gardens. His identity and role are unknown to her at that moment, but it isn't long before they discover chemistry (indicated by kissing while wet after sampling freshly picked grapes) even as she maintains her pretense. Matteo fled from his family; Michael (either a cousin or brother) embraced it and accepted additional responsibilities.

      In essence, it's a story about deceit leading to family connections and rekindling passion. Another character also starts lying (once again, the film leans heavily on tropes). Part of the summer festival features a ceremonial barrel-pushing activity, one of the few entertaining moments present (aside from some laughs from the taxi driver), and I genuinely hope Nintendo turns it into a Mario Party minigame. There’s also a perplexing subplot involving a family member, trivializing infidelity as morally acceptable and humorous, which makes little sense given that a similar situation arises between other characters and is treated as significant to the plot.

      Throughout much of You, Me & Tuscany, I found myself wanting either one of those sandwiches, to sample the delectable dishes,