The premise of Me and You in Tuscany seemed promising from the start: a romantic comedy with two great leads, an enemies-to-lovers twist, set among wine, pasta, and the stunning scenery of Italy. The kind of thing Under the Tuscan Sun did so well in 2003, and Letters to Juliet recreated just as charmingly in 2010.

The problem here is that the screenplay by Ryan Engle and Kristin Engle leans too hard into the comedy, making the result feel almost silly at times.

• [Interview] Me and You in Tuscany had a scene that left Regé-Jean Page in “denial”

In the story, we follow Anna (the excellent Halle Bailey), a young woman who gave up her dream of becoming a chef to care for her mother in her final days and, after her death, never quite found herself again. Everything changes when she has a chance encounter with an Italian man who reveals he has an empty villa in Tuscany.

On a whim, Anna decides to buy a ticket to Italy and ends up at Matteo’s villa… without him. Not long after, however, she is caught by the young man’s family and, in a panic, lies that she is his fiancée. But the lie becomes harder and harder to maintain as she grows closer to his cousin, Michael (the effortlessly handsome Regé-Jean Page).

Plots built entirely around a lie already tend to be harder to sustain, and in Me and You in Tuscany, the situation is even worse because the protagonist has plenty of chances to tell the truth before the supposed fiancé inevitably shows up. She comes close on several occasions, only to be stopped by something very simple. It all becomes even more frustrating because the characters around her are far too lovable to be deceived like that. 

In that sense, Kat Coiro’s film (Marry Me) does a great job with its supporting cast. It’s easy to fall for the warmth and affection of Matteo’s mother, cousins, and uncles (Lorenzo de Moor). The driver who helps Anna on her adventure, Lorenzo (Marco Calvani), is also a comfort to the heart. He is a necessary source of advice and is perhaps where the comedy works most naturally.

But it’s probably between the leads that the romantic comedy really succeeds. Regé-Jean Page has an effortless charm that is heightened by the “carefree heartthrob” persona he initially presents. Halle Bailey, meanwhile, radiates sweetness and an easy laugh. Once the barbs fade (they have a disagreement over food right at the beginning), the two connect through loss and passion, and it’s easy to root for them to end up together.

When the extra scenes and bloopers start playing over the credits, it almost feels like Me and You in Tuscany is really becoming one of those classic 2000s romantic comedies. If only the script had been trimmed down before filming…

Eu e Você na Toscana

You, Me & Tuscany

2026

105 min

Duração: 105 min

Director(s): Kat Coiro

Screenplay: Kristin Engle, Ryan Engle

Cast: Regé-Jean Page, Halle Bailey

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