It’s been a fat minute since I’ve seen a rom-com that actually feels like the early 2000s ones I grew up loving — but they are SO back.
“You, Me & Tuscany” is the best newly released rom-com I’ve seen in years, and it felt nostalgic, despite being set in our day and age. The film takes place in Italy, which creates an ideal backdrop for love to naturally unfold. It was genuinely hilarious, with none of the cringy acting I’ve seen in a lot of newer films.
I haven’t left the theater this happy in YEARS. This may sound a little niche, but the best way to describe it is I felt like I was transported into a Colbie Caillat song — light, airy, free and in love.
“You, Me & Tuscany” follows Anna (Halle Bailey), who is figuring out her life and not exactly living it to the fullest of its potential. She’s surviving, not thriving. Anna meets Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor), a gorgeous Italian man, who tells her about his life in Italy and how he left on a sour note — and most importantly, that he has a house that’s completely empty.
Inspired by Matteo’s tales of Tuscany, Anna decides to fly to Italy with little to no funds. Because she goes there on a whim, housing arrangements can’t be made… BUT she remembers Matteo has an empty house. Anna decides to stay there, and when she’s discovered by Matteo’s family, she gets caught in a lie that she’s Matteo’s fiancée. But just around the corner is Matteo’s stunning brother Michael (Regé-Jean Page), who Anna ends up falling in love with.
It’s giving “While You Were Sleeping,” but make it Italian.
What I liked
The Tuscany setting was PERFECT and reminiscent of other movies I love, like “Under the Tuscan Sun” and “Letters to Juliet.” Being set in Italy automatically gives a romantic vibe. Plus, I’m Italian… so it feels VERY comforting and homey to see that scenery and culture represented on screen.
The Italian family stereotypes are SO funny to see play out on screen — loud, crazy and loyal members. Matteo and Michael’s sister is the star comedian, Francesca (Stella Pecollo), who openly tells Anna within minutes of meeting her that she’s having an affair with the plumber.
Going into this movie, I was expecting a cringey rom-com that would yet again fail to live up to the early 2000s standard that lives rent free in my brain. But this movie is so effortless at making our modern day world feel nostalgic, and even happy. That’s thanks to the actors themselves. Bailey and Page have chemistry that doesn’t feel forced — it’s believable and easy to get lost in.
For example, there’s a scene where they get caught in the sprinklers at the family vineyard, which could’ve easily felt cringey, but instead comes across as completely natural. Bailey and Page don’t overplay the moment. They lean into the spontaneity of it, laughing, stumbling and being present with each other. It feels less like a scripted rom-com scene and more like a real memory unfolding, which is what makes it so charming.
And don’t get me started on the soundtrack. It has STRAIGHT BANGERS. The modern day queen of R&B and soul herself, Olivia Dean, was featured in the film with “So Easy (To Fall In Love).” Artists like Jordan Ward, Leon Thomas and Thee Sacred Souls are also included, giving the movie a nostalgic, soul-inspired sound while still feeling fresh with modern voices.
The end credits of the movie were essentially a blooper and outtakes reel, which also felt reminiscent of early 2000s films, and I ate it up.
What I didn’t like
There’s honestly not a single thing I would change about the film itself. My only complaint is that I don’t feel like I saw any marketing for this film, except for seeing trailers of it during other movies. It feels like a HUGE missed opportunity because it has everything people say they’ve been missing from rom-coms. It could’ve been a breakout hit if more people knew about it.
Industry conversations have been had about the fact that the film is being treated as a test for the future of Black-led rom-coms, which only makes me wish more people knew about it — or that I was seeing more interviews and press with the two leads — because this is exactly the kind of film people should be hearing about and showing up for.
The verdict
“You, Me & Tuscany” is essentially a love letter to all great and classic rom-coms that have come before us. It feels natural even though it takes place in our modern world, and you leave with such a warm, feel-good happiness that makes you want to watch it over and over again.
I’m rating this film 4.5 out of five stars because it’s effortless in every single way a rom-com should be. Who wouldn’t want to watch a beautiful, funny story set in Italy? It’s a MUST-SEE in theaters because you’ll leave genuinely feeling like rom-coms are back in business.
