After a string of recent rom-com disappointments, each new film carries the burden of restoring our faith in the genre. Director Kat Coiro’s “You, Me & Tuscany” nearly pulls it off with a couple you’ll actually root for and a plot that hasn’t been done a hundred times. The film would capture the essence of a golden age rom-com — if it weren’t for the fact that the romance often feels more like a B-plot.
Released on April 10, the film follows Anna (Halle Bailey), a culinary school dropout turned housesitter who lives vicariously through her wealthy clients until she meets Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor). After drinks and a long chat, Matteo tells Anna to follow her dreams and go to Tuscany, and that’s exactly what she does. She buys a plane ticket on a whim, with no plan except to eat.
With nowhere to stay, Anna squats in Matteo’s empty villa. When Matteo’s mother and grandmother find Anna, they believe she’s his fiancee. Before she can tell the truth, she’s introduced to the rest of the family, including Matteo’s attractive, adopted brother Michael (Regé-Jean Page). The two already have history: Michael nearly hit her with his wagon, then stole her sandwich.
Like all rom-com couples should, Bailey and Page share palpable chemistry, striking a necessary balance between comedy and passion. With “The Little Mermaid” and “Bridgerton” under their belts, respectively, their mastery of romance was never in question — even if they get little alone time on camera. Bailey plays Anna with a bubbly charm, winning over audiences despite the emotional chaos her engagement lie creates. Page, however, is a walking green flag — a sharp contrast to his role in “Bridgerton.” He’s honest with himself about his love for Anna, but still hesitant to tell her how he feels because he believes she’s engaged to Matteo. Together, they make even the cheesiest dialogue feel sincere.
Regrettably, the film focuses more on Anna’s relationship with Matteo’s family than her romance with Michael. Anna’s engagement to Matteo holds much importance to the family because the relationship means he is returning to Italy after living abroad for over a year. Their immediate, overwhelming acceptance leaves only fleeting moments for the movie’s couple. Anna and Michael do get some peaceful scenes — like drinking wine at his vineyard or sharing a bite of bruschetta — but family members unceremoniously interrupt every other moment.
At the pivotal moment when Michael is about to confess his love for Anna, Matteo and the family barge in. Even though we know they’ll probably get together by the end, the heart of a rom-com is watching tension build and romance flourish. Anna and Michael’s relationship feels sidelined, with too few chances to show the vulnerability every authentic relationship needs. The couple’s happy ending — living out their days in Italy together — arrives without earning its emotional weight.
Despite leaving viewers craving more of Anna and Michael, the film is a welcome bounce-back from recent Hollywood slop like “Reminders of Him” and “Wuthering Heights,” or the mismarketed “The Drama” that brought shame to the rom-com genre. Though there have been hits like “People We Meet on Vacation,” many rom-coms of today still straddle the line between cringe and heartwarming. “You, Me & Tuscany” and its two Black leads deliver at a time when rom-coms are incredibly hit or miss. When you have a couple with great chemistry, who cares if it’s a little cliche?
The best rom-coms would never happen in real life., and that’s exactly why we love them. “You, Me & Tuscany” crystallizes that feeling — it leaves you fantasizing about meet-cutes and wishing falling in love could be so easy.
Contact Alessa Aluin at [email protected].