By Fiorela Gonzales

The theatrical experience for romantic comedies has been dwindling downwards over the past decade, thanks in part to streaming services taking over and studios deeming rom coms as the “not quite good enough for theaters” genre. Especially in the past 5 years, romantic comedies seem to have almost disappeared from a night out at the movies completely, which is why it’s exciting to see the newest rom com, You, Me, and Tuscany, evade the streaming abyss and hit actual theaters.

You, Me, and Tuscany stars Anna (Halle Bailey) as a culinary school drop out who now leads a nomad life house sitting for rich people and pretending to live their lives as she keeps her own life at a standstill due to the recent death of her mother. While at a hotel bar, she meets Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor), a rich and handsome Italian man who tells her how he bought a house in his hometown of Tuscany before he ditched his family and fled from Italy. Anna has the sudden inspiration to live the life she was supposed to live and heads to Tuscany on a whim, without anywhere to stay. She ends up at Matteo’s home, assuming it’d be empty after what he’d told her, only to find herself face to face with Matteo’s mother and grandmother. They assume her and Matteo must be engaged, and Anna goes along with the lie and meets the family, including cousin Michael (Regé-Jean Page). Anna begins to fall deeper into the lie while simultaneously falling for Michael, even though she’s supposed to be marrying Matteo, who does eventually show up to add more lies to the ever-growing scheme.

As a romantic comedy, this movie is light and sweet and never takes itself too seriously. It’s not a groundbreaking film by any means, but it is a very enjoyable night at the movies. Even though it’s very cheesy and incredibly predictable, it is very funny. There are three supporting characters who steal the show: First, the New York City based best friend, Claire (Aziza Scott), whose quips and tangents deliver a fun punch to the story. Second, Matteo’s sister Francesca (Stella Pecollo) who’s cheating on her husband with the plumber, Luigi (which is maybe too on the nose of a joke for it to work). Lastly, the taxi driver Lorenzo (Marco Calvani) who acts as Anna’s de facto best friend in Italy and delivers many laughs and lots of hearts. Nia Vardalos also makes a quick cameo appearance in the film and is criminally underused with only 3 lines of dialogue.

Italy looks beautiful. The food looks delicious. And everyone is attractive. Something that is not lost on the filmmakers as they show Regé-Jean Page shirtless, under sprinklers, and in slow motion. It’s not very deep, but it’s not unenjoyable. The stakes are never that high in the film, and even when the lies are discovered, it never leaves you wondering what will happen next. It’s very clear what will happen next, but there’s enough comedy throughout to keep you engaged.

Romantic comedies have taken such a major hit, so to have not only a rom com in theaters, but a rom com with two black leads in theaters is almost unprecedented. In 2023, Anyone But You (with Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney) became a sleeper hit and was a surprising box office success. That movie is not any better than You, Me, and Tuscany, but I do believe the reason it did so well is because people genuinely miss seeing these types of movies in theaters. This is the ideal girl’s night/date night/out with friends movie. It’s the perfect movie for having a couple of drinks and laughing with a bunch of strangers in a theater. You, Me, Tuscany isn’t the most amazing movie in the world, but if it means more romantic comedies in theaters, and especially romantic comedies with people of color, then I’m full in on Tuscany.

3 stars.