‘You, Me & Tuscany’ is a Return to Classic Rom-Coms
I miss the good old days of Romantic Comedies. Now I know what you’re thinking, there are plenty of good romantic comedies released every year. Don’t get me wrong, I will always enjoy turning on the Hallmark channel or heading to the cinema to see the latest rom-com to arrive on screens. However, in today’s oversaturated film market, there aren’t many that capture the energy or charm of those from yesteryear. There’s something about films such as When Harry Met Sally…, Notting Hill, 10 Things I Hate About You, and, of course, Pretty Woman, that have been missing from so many rom-coms that have come since. That is…until the recent release from Universal Pictures, You, Me & Tuscany.
There’s something special about You, Me & Tuscany, which feels like a return to form for the genre, unlike anything from recent years. Directed by Kat Coiro, who produced and directed episodes of the new Matlock, Girls5eva, and Marvel Studios’ She-Hulk: Attorney at Law, this Universal Pictures film feels like both a breath of fresh air and reminiscent of the greats that came before. With a script by Ryan Engle, You, Me & Tuscany finds life and charm through its leads, Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page, who elevate the story from ordinary to extraordinary.
While the film leans heavily on familiar rom-com conventions, it delivers a visually lush and emotionally sincere experience, even if it is predictable, as all films in this genre are. So is You, Me & Tuscany worth a trip to the movie theater, or should you wait until it’s streaming to check it out? Let’s explore this film to find out!
[Warning: Spoilers from You, Me & Tuscany are below!]
A dream trip to Italy comes with its own set of problems
Anna (Halle Bailey) once had aspirations of being an incredible chef, but life threw her a gigantic curveball she wasn’t prepared for. When her mother became ill, Anna gave up on her own dreams to care for her family, switching out a whisk for a dog leash and house keys. Even after her mother’s passing, she continued to housesit for others, which allows her to live a fantasy she doesn’t think is achievable anymore. There’s a thrill for Anna, slipping on the clothes of rich people and pretending to be a part of their world (pun fully intended); however, such actions have consequences.
Ultimately, Anna’s lost in her own life, stuck in a world that doesn’t fit her, until an opportunity lands in her lap. One night, while staying at an expensive hotel where her friend Claire (Aziza Scott) works, Anna meets Matteo (Morenzo de Moor), a hot Italian man whom she connects with pretty quickly. Being quite the charmer, he convinces her to visit Italy, as was her mother’s wish for her, and to not give up on life. As someone who has a beautiful, and dare I say empty, villa in the Italian countryside, Matteo can’t lament enough about the magic of visiting there and how Anna should go there as soon as possible.
And so she does, thanks to 500 dollars in her pocket and a prepaid ticket from her mom, arriving in Tuscany with not a single care in the world…during the city’s busiest time of the year. People have come in droves for the festival, leaving every hotel at capacity and stranding Anna in a foreign country. That is, until she remembers an empty villa just calling her name.
It’s here that You, Me & Tuscany fully embraces the romantic comedy genre, as she’s mistaken by Matteo’s family as his fiancée, as she’s slipped a family heirloom on her finger prior to getting caught by his mother and grandmother. Feeling stuck and afraid to go to jail, Anna lets the family believe it, as she continues her trip of a lifetime, but what she isn’t counting on is falling in love with Matteo’s cousin, Michael (Regé-Jean Page). Can Anna come clean with the family, and perhaps herself, without losing Michael? Or are these two destined for an unhappy ending?
The brilliance of You, Me & Tuscany
I could feel there was something special about this film from the first trailer I saw. When watching television, I barely pay attention to the commercials. Typically, I use that time to catch up on household tasks, but the moment that one came on for You, Me, & Tuscany, I was drawn in by an immediate charm. It had all the makings of a traditional rom-com; that blend of magical realism with escapism, emotional introspection from one, if not both, of the main characters, and the promise of transformation packaged perfectly with a bow. You, Me, and Tuscany fits comfortably within this genre’s tradition while also carving out its own identity.
At the core of this film from Universal Pictures is a narrative of rediscovery, though perhaps not the way most people might expect. Sure, Anna rediscovers love, which seemed like something she had given up on following her mother’s passing, but more importantly, she finds her purpose and self throughout You, Me & Tuscany. That’s the piece that drew me most to this film, as Anna’s story of finding herself is where the beauty truly lies. She has no idea who she is at the beginning, and by the end, she’s fully formed once again.
She needed to heal in so many ways. Overcoming the grief of her mother’s death is perhaps the biggest example, but there are other ways as well. Having given up on her dreams, she doesn’t know what she wants, or even if she wants what she thought she once couldn’t live without. While it took her traveling to Tuscany to achieve it, the fact that she does realize it helps make You, Me & Tuscany a hopeful film. While Anna feels that her journey is all about the destination early on, as the film progresses, she learns that Tuscany was never necessary for the internal transformation that unfolds along the way. But it definitely helps…
But of course, this message is delivered under the guise of romance, which You, Me & Tuscany does brilliantly as well. As Anna finds herself, she’s also finding that maybe she’s open to the possibility of sharing her life with another. This film succeeds in balancing the highs and lows of a will-they/won’t-they love story with the humor that is needed.
Part of that is also due to the chemistry between Bailey and Page, who are magnetic from the moment they lay eyes on one another. You can’t help but giggle, or even roll your eyes in an endearing way, every time they get closer but are pulled apart at the last minute. Their chemistry reminded me so much of Julia Roberts and Richard Gere, which is perhaps the biggest compliment I could possibly give them.
Final thoughts on You, Me & Tuscany
While this was a fantastic rom-com in my books, that doesn’t mean it’s without issue. Most of my gripes came from editing issues that felt odd or led to slight, insignificant continuity errors. Some scenes felt shot on a soundstage, spliced within others filmed on set, which led to some stark differences each and every time the camera flipped. However, it also adds a bit of charm, harkening back to the golden age of this genre. If you’re looking for a fun time, then you can’t go wrong with You, Me & Tuscany.
You, Me & Tuscany is currently playing in theaters! Have you watched this film yet? What did you think? Share your thoughts on social media and tag @bsb.insider to continue the conversation!
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