Is the classic romantic comedy trying to make a comeback that viewers are waiting for? The filmmakers responsible for You, Me & Tuscany provide a reasonably solid argument for the genre. Lately it seems like most of those movies head straight for Netflix or Prime. They’re quick content that often strays into cheesy ‘Hallmark’ territory. So, to find a romcom hit theatres is a bit of a treat, and seeing the stunning beauty of Tuscany on the big screen certainly helps this one serve as some easy escapism.

Anna (Halle Bailey) finds herself a little lost after losing her mom the previous year. She has dropped out of culinary school, unable to even think of cooking since it brings up so many memories of her dear mother, who was herself a Michelin chef. Instead, she’s trying (and failing) to make ends meet by house-sitting for New York’s wealthy. She retreats from her own life by stepping into the reality of others.

One night, she meets Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor), a charming and handsome Italian man who is traveling on business. The two talk over dinner and drinks and he inspires her to use a plane ticket to Italy that Anna’s mother had purchased for her before she passed. Having seen pictures of Matteo’s home town she heads there, but with no place to stay she decides Matteo’s empty villa will have to suffice. He’s not home, and she is an experienced house sitter after all.

A series of bad choices ensues, which leads to Matteo’s family believing that Anna is actually his fiancé, despite the fact they have spent only one night together. But Anna is quickly swept up in the love this family has to offer, something she’s been starved of since her mom died. A friendly taxi driver, Lorenzo (Marco Calvani of The Four Seasons) encourages her to tell the truth. But Anna continues carrying on with the lie as she reconnects with herself in this small Tuscan town. If only Matteo’s attractive brother Michael (Regé-Jean Page) wasn’t there to confuse matters, with his vineyard and his “8-pack.”

Cr. Courtesy of Universal © 2026

So, of course you know where this is headed. No spoilers needed, since there’s not much variation in the rom com formula. These films are about the journey, not the destination. The screenplay by Ryan Engle, who has penned movies like Rampage and Beast, shows the action writer knows the basic marks he has to hit. This one fumbles a bit at the start, especially with some unnecessary, clunky narrated exposition about things that are revealed in due time anyway.  The film finds its footing once it lets the Tuscan surroundings support the story. But the rom com happy ending is only happy if the leads can really make you care about their romance.

Regé-Jean Page is no stranger to love stories, with his breakout role being the steamy first season of Netflix’s Bridgerton. He knows exactly what he is meant to do – be handsome and charismatic, swoon-worthy even. And he’s good at it. That aforementioned 8-pack will make a few appearances too, notably in one slo-motion scene that is so over the top the film seems to poke fun at itself. He makes it easy to see why Anna quickly falls for him, and Bailey and Page do have an affable way about them in the scenes they share.

However, I personally still find Halle Bailey lacking a bit of the presence this leading role requires.  That’s not to say that won’t develop, but she doesn’t seem quite there yet.  Bailey is certainly likeable, but she needs to step up when she’s on screen when up against scene stealers like Aziza Scott, who plays her best friend Claire, and Stella Pecollo who plays Matteo and Michael’s sister. Perhaps her youthful persona and the 12 year age gap between her and Page doesn’t help, as sometimes Bailey feels miscast despite her amiable nature.

Directed by Kat Coiro (2022’s Marry Me) You, Me & Tuscany is fairly enjoyable time at the movies. Great for a date night, a girls night or an easy solo watch. It never pretends to be more than what it is, it’s not trying to reinvent the wheel. In fact, it’s happy to pay homage to the films that came before it, even giving shout outs to Under the Tuscan Sun and Eat, Pray, Love. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting when you sit in the seat for this movie; some laughs, some romance, some silliness. Its plot is everything you expect it to be. You, Me & Tuscany just feels familiar. And perhaps that is a good thing, at a time where a little predictability can bring welcome comfort.