By: Lana K. Wilson-Combs
"YOU, ME & TUSCANY" IS A SWEET AND SPICY ROM-COM
Producer
Will Packer has practically turned feel-good romantic comedies into his signature dish. Consider "This Christmas," "Think Like a Man" and "Girls Trip" among others. With his latest outing,
"You, Me & Tuscany," he serves up another flavorful escape.
Set against the scenic Tuscan countryside, "You, Me & Tuscany" from director
Kat Coiro (TV's "Matlock") and screenwriter
Kristin Engle--making her big screen debut--follows Anna (a terrific Halle Bailey, "The Little Mermaid" and "The Color Purple") who once dreamed of becoming a celebrated chef like her mother.
A promising culinary student, Anna was even set to travel to Italy to refine her skills. But when her mother fell ill and soon passed away, Anna put those ambitions on hold and had yet to rediscover her footing.
Anna's confidence is at an all-time low. She recently got fired from her house-sitting job, mainly for wearing her boss’ designer clothes--including her lingerie--and now Anna really has no place to stay. So, she turns to her feisty best friend Claire (Aziza Scott, "One of Them Days"), who works at a swanky hotel and might be able to pull some strings and get Anna a room for a bit.
But Claire isn't one to mince words. She insists Anna start fresh, get back on track, and finally pursue her culinary dreams. When Anna meets a handsome Italian named Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor, "Another Simple Favor") at a posh Manhattan bar and they strike up a conversation about their careers, something clicks. As luck would have it, Matteo is a businessman from Italy with a villa sitting empty. He also comes with complications, particularly a family eager for him to take a more active role in their winery and business ventures.
Finally, Anna takes Claire's advice to heart, and her flirty exchange with Matteo pushes her toward change. In a wildly impulsive move, she packs up and--much to Claire’s surprise--heads for Tuscany. Upon arrival, she befriends an eccentric driver named Lorenzo (a funny Marco Calvani, TV's "The Four Seasons"), who chauffeurs her around in search of a place to stay. But with a major summer festival in full swing, everything is booked. Desperate, Anna heads to Matteo's villa and breaks in, stunned by its sprawling beauty.
Just as she begins to settle in, she's interrupted by unexpected visitors--Matteo's mother Gabriella (Isabella Ferrari, "Cortina Express") and grandmother Nonna Alessia (Stefania Casini, "Rumore"), who routinely stop by to check on the home. Caught off guard and wearing an engagement ring she found in a drawer, Anna is mistaken for Matteo's fiancee.
Instead of correcting them, she plays along, and the lie quickly snowballs. Soon, the entire family--including Matteo's sister Francesca (Stella Pecollo, TV's "A Fluffy Life") and father Vincenzo (Paolo Sassanelli, "It Will Happen Tonight")--is convinced Matteo is settling down and on his way home for a big Italian wedding.
But not so fast. When Matteo's cousin and adopted brother Michael arrives, (the hunky/handsome Rege-Jean Page, "Black Bag" and TV's "Bridgerton") that fake romance takes an unexpected turn.
Sparks fly between Michael and Anna, and tensions rise as she must decide whether to come clean or risk losing a real shot at love. Anna and Michael quickly discover they have more in common than expected, sharing quiet, intimate moments in the vineyard--even singing along to R&B star Mario--as something genuine begins to blossom.
"You, Me and Tuscany" is a classic boy-meets-girl, girl-nearly-loses-boy romantic comedy. It doesn't always follow the traditional recipe, but that works in its favor, giving the story a fresh and occasionally unpredictable flavor. More importantly, it's refreshing to see a mature, tender love story with a Black man and woman in leading roles.
"You, Me and Tuscany" offers charm, chemistry, and enough scenic indulgence to make it a delightful, romantic getaway.
Editor's Note: Be sure to catch my N2Entertainment.net movie talk segment on the Kitty O'Neal Show Fridays at 5:17 p.m. and 6:47 p.m. on radio station KFBK 93.1 FM and 1530 AM.
Check Out This Trailer For
"YOU, ME & TUSCANY"
Lana K. Wilson-Combs is a member of the Broadcast Film Critics Association (BFCA), The American Film Institute (AFI), and a Nominating Committee Voting Member for the NAACP Image Awards.
