When a woman crashes at an empty Italian villa, posing as the owner’s fiancée, she discovers an unexpected romance that could transform her life.
After watching the trailer for “You, Me & Tuscany,” I let out a sigh – in less than two and a half minutes, it seemed to expose every single twist and turn of the film. There is just something incredibly deflating about trailers that tell their whole story in a concise snippet, making the movie itself seem utterly unnecessary when it eventually reaches theaters. So, it was with a great deal of trepidation that I accepted Universal’s offer to preview the film early on Blu-ray™. There, I could put my theory to the test: would “You, Me & Tuscany” play out as predicted… or could it surprise me after all?
Unsurprisingly, yes, it did. Yet, unbelievably, I was thoroughly entertained. For the record, I’m a sucker for a romantic comedy. That said, I can only stand so many portrayals that lack both genuine heart and an ounce of warmth and sincerity. “You, Me & Tuscany” doesn’t even attempt to re-invent the wheel – that said, it delivers a compelling duo of characters and plot developments which can all be traced within familiar territory, which, as everyone knows, is half the fun when it comes to an “easy watch” such as this.
Anna Montgomery (Halle Bailey) is an aspiring chef who was devastated by the death of her mother and who has ended up drifting through a series of house-sitting assignments with few long-term prospects or ambitions beyond merely getting by. It’s during one such assignment in a hotel bar that Anna meets Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor), a debonair Italian. He is clearly taken with Anna and spends the evening swapping stories and photos with her about his magnificent family villa – a property which was supposed to be part of his wedding gift.
Unfortunately, however, he was unable to make his commitment to his wife or his family business. Therefore, he walked away from the house and from the lifestyle, heading out into the wider world in a bid to find himself. He goes off, and Anna eventually decides that a life of room-sitting in a strange house isn’t going to get her anywhere in the long term. Remembering Matteo’s show of villa photographs, she buys herself a ticket to Italy – and immediately encounters problems at her destination: the Summer Festival is in full swing, and accommodation is scarce, leaving her desperate to find lodging.
Luckily, help is on hand in the form of Lorenzo (Marco Calvani), an eccentric taxi driver with a generous heart who quickly becomes her ally and cheerleader. He learns that Matteo owns a holiday home nearby and, on the strength of Anna’s desperate plight, offers to drive her there. Arriving at the house and using a spare key in the process, Anna walks in – and is immediately charmed to find that the villa is stunning. There, she idly tries on a diamond ring she stumbles upon in one of her bedrooms, but immediately realizes she cannot remove it!
By the next morning, she is found by Matteo’s mother, Gabriella (Isabella Ferrari), and his grandmother, Nonna (Stefania Casini). Forced to invent an elaborate story, she explains that she met Matteo in New York and is his proud fiancée. Needless to say, both women are overjoyed – and Anna is invited into their home and encouraged to fully prepare for the upcoming nuptials.It is at this stage that Anna is formally introduced to Matteo’s brother, Michael (Regé-Jean Page) – and a truly charming relationship begins to blossom. Their romance is shattered when Matteo returns and discovers Anna’s deception – and there, understandably, events begin to spin. Although I knew the entire narrative sequence in advance, the unfolding of events proved remarkably absorbing. I loved Anna and, despite knowing the inevitable arc, found myself rooting for her to succeed.
Having disassociated himself from his family, Matteo finds that the circumstances offer him the perfect opportunity to give his mother and grandmother the illusion that everything is still on track, while affording him some breathing space to come up with a plan. Yet Anna, having developed real feelings for Michael and longing for a sense of family after a lonely upbringing, finds their future compromised. The house is idyllic – but soon she will have no alternative but to flee or tell the truth. Although at the end of the day, “You, Me & Tuscany” is, at its core, a charming escape, I must confess that the characters all have a likeability and warmth about them which drew me into the story with ease. Even those characters who are more stereotypical – such as the “meddling parents” – serve their purpose well within the film’s narrative framework.
The breathtaking views of the family’s Tuscan villa, filmed on real vineyards in Montalcino, Monticchiello, and Siena, elevate the experience far beyond what a green screen could offer. In what really turned out to be a pleasant surprise, “You, Me & Tuscany” managed to exceed my low expectations, win me over with its charm, and had me thoroughly entertained throughout its running time. If it’s a picturesque romantic break that you’re after – look no further.
Now available on Blu-ray™ and DVD
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