What defines a rom-com?
If you were to ask You, Me & Tuscany director Kat Coiro along with writers Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle, they would likely describe it as something charmingly predictable and relatable.
For instance, the plot typically revolves around a relatable yet stunningly beautiful young woman navigating life post-tragedy. She finds herself in Italy after her late mother’s plane ticket leads her there, where she has a serendipitous encounter with a handsome but aloof local.
This encounter is often followed by heartfelt moments, self-discovery, and …
Well, you can probably guess the rest.
This formula may sound familiar to those acquainted with the mistaken-identity-to-love genre. The film’s essence lies in its predictability.
This formulaic familiarity is evident in this endearing, comedic, yet somewhat contrived film, as well as in the recurring “return of the rom-com!” discussions that resurface annually.
While You, Me & Tuscany is not a cinematic disaster, it represents a specific type of superficial, escapist rom-com that some may argue is better off not existing.
This sentiment is not due to any glaring flaws in the storyline or performances. Halle Bailey shines as Anna, a New Yorker turned professional house sitter dreaming of a culinary adventure in Tuscany.
Similarly, Regé-Jean Page delivers a commendable performance as Michael, the enigmatic single winemaker and Anna’s love interest, whom she encounters shortly after arriving in Italy impulsively.
The film’s premise, much like the classic comic misunderstandings seen in past works like Elio and Twelfth Night, revolves around Anna inadvertently fabricating a lie about her identity.
Prior to her impromptu trip, she encounters wealthy realtor Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor), a Tuscan transplant estranged from his family. Anna’s decision to break into and reside in Matteo’s unoccupied villa during a bustling summer festival leads to a chain of misadventures.
When Matteo’s family discovers Anna in his bed, she concocts a false narrative that she and Matteo are engaged, and he is returning to reconcile with his family before the wedding.
A further twist comes when Anna realizes that Michael, the charming man she encountered earlier, is Matteo’s adoptive brother.
Romantic clichés
Is there an issue with a rom-com centering on a protagonist deceiving their love interest? Past films like You’ve Got Mail, Anastasia, and others have successfully