By K. A. Grant
As romantic comedies (rom-coms) go, most movies have a formula. Woman and man meet cute. There are tension and reasons why they shouldn’t be together. And, there are people around them propelling them toward each other. You, Me & Tuscany is no different.
The Lies That Made An Impact
Anna (played by Halle Bailey) is a liar. It hurts to write that, because she’s a sweet, lovable character. You want to root for her to find happiness. I cringed each time she lied. Anna is a professional house sitter who likes to post luxury thirst traps on Instagram, pretending to live other people’s lifestyles; not realizing that she didn’t need those material things. She’s already a great and talented woman.
Finding herself between jobs, she decides to finally use the plane ticket to Tuscany that her mother gifted her. When she can’t find a place to stay, Anna then decides to stay in the villa owned by a man she just met, Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor), who told her it’s sitting empty. Why Matteo would tell a complete stranger that is beyond me. I don’t tell too many people when I travel, since it’s always best to never tell people when your house is empty and ready to be robbed.
While in Tuscany, Anna meets Matteo’s family, including his cousin Michael (Regé-Jean Page), who is a steamy breath of fresh air. He and Anna complement each other well. They’re both great people. Their chemistry would make any heart flutter. And, they manage to unite a family of strong personalities. The conflict of Anna’s lies hangs between them, though.
Telling Tales
As a storyteller, I understand conflict is absolutely necessary. As a romantic I believe in the power of love overcoming most flaws. So, it’s disheartening to see Anna, a lovable character, lie so easily. I guess that’s me wanting a flawed character to be perfect in an imperfect world.
That said, You, Me & Tuscany’s plot is still a classic rom-com. Anna gets a chance to redeem herself from my judgment. Don’t worry, I didn’t spend the whole movie disliking her. Quite the opposite. A testament to Bailey’s talents as an actress, she made this character relatable despite the lies. Even though the premise is mostly unrealistic, there’s a realism in the lies we tell while on a quest to find love.
Honest Review
While my first snap judgment is valid. It can also be written that people always want to show the best version of themselves, even if it’s a lie. We do it in love, business, and even in family bonds. Not that it’s right. It’s just … life.
So, even though You, Me & Tuscany is a typical rom-com with the stellar casting two great black actors, it’s a lesson in learning to be your authentic self. Because, showing the one you like/love your true self is the best version of you at the moment. No lies, just you.
Oh, yeah. You should definitely see You, Me & Tuscany.
Want to read more reviews from K. A. Grant? Click here to read her Entertainment Blog.
