You, Me, and Tuscany is a new romcom directed by Kat Coiro and written by Kristen Engle and Ryan Engle. The film stars Halle Bailey, Regé-Jean Page, Marco Calvani, and more. Going into this film, I was hoping for nothing more than a cute romcom. It’s been a while since we’ve had one that’s been effective. A lot of times nowadays when we get a new romantic film, they’re usually mixed in with tragedy for the characters. While there’s a little bit of that here, You, Me, and Tuscany definitely slips itself right into that classic 2000s cheesy romcom.
The film follows Anna, played by Halle Bailey, who’s a down-on-her-luck housesitter who just lost her job and is trying to find a way to make a living. Amidst all this, she has a ticket to Italy that her mom left for her before she passed away. After meeting a young man named Matteo and learning that he has an empty villa in Italy, she decides to head out there to stay in his Tuscan villa, pretending to be his fiancée. What starts as a lie turns into an unexpected romance when she meets the owner’s cousin, leading to a story of love, deception, and self-discovery.
I enjoyed this film. I can’t say I loved it, and there are definitely some gripes to get into. There are elements that fall into cliché, cheesy tropes that we’ve seen many times before. If you’ve seen the trailer multiple times, you’ve pretty much seen the movie. The marketing really does give a lot away. But despite that, You, Me, and Tuscany is still a good time. It’s predictable and cliché, but it’s also effective and pretty funny in moments. I found myself chuckling quite a bit. The actors are what really give the film heart and charm, even when it feels like a 2000s Disney-style romcom with a bit more edge, including some language and light sexual elements. Overall, I did enjoy myself with it.
The cast works well here. Halle Bailey gives a performance that leans into that slightly cheesy romcom style, but she brings charm and heart to the role. It’s not the most riveting performance, but she plays the role well. Her character starts off a bit unlikable. She’s someone who’s been bouncing from house to house, taking on housesitting gigs while essentially living other people’s lives because she doesn’t have one of her own. She’s broke, her credit cards are maxed out, her credit score is low, and she hasn’t been able to keep up with rent. She’s wearing other people’s clothes, walking their dogs, and fully stepping into their lives, which obviously causes issues. The film leans into her need for self-discovery and learning to live her own life. There’s also the emotional element of her mother’s passing, which halted her plans of going to culinary school and becoming a chef. Over the course of You, Me, and Tuscany, she begins to open up and realize there’s more life to live. While she’s a bit frustrating at first, Halle Bailey brings enough charm to make the character engaging as things progress.
Alongside her is the main love interest, Michael, played by Regé-Jean Page. He’s very charming and likable here. The two of them work well together in the romcom dynamic, making the sweet moments feel sweet and the more romantic or slightly steamy moments land as they should. The film doesn’t go too far in that direction, so it’s not over the top, but those moments are there and definitely got reactions from the audience. That was one of the more fun aspects of the experience—seeing people react to those scenes.
There are also a lot of fun side characters, especially the family in Italy. When Anna arrives, they quickly pull her into their lives. It’s that classic Italian family dynamic where you’re immediately part of everything. Some of the funniest moments come from these characters, whether it’s the family interactions, smaller side plots like affairs, or even a recurring taxi driver. You, Me, and Tuscany has a light, fun energy throughout, and the side characters add to that. It even ends with bloopers, which is something you don’t see much anymore, and it adds to that throwback feel.
In terms of filmmaking, it’s competently made but nothing stands out in a major way. The cinematography is fine, the score works but isn’t memorable, and the editing and pacing are standard. It doesn’t do anything groundbreaking. The script is where things can be hit or miss. There are genuinely charming and classic romcom moments, but there are also lines of dialogue that come off as a bit cringey or overly goofy. It doesn’t always feel like a modern romcom, and instead leans heavily into early 2000s sensibilities. That’s not necessarily a bad thing if you enjoy that style, but it can make the genre feel a bit dated. Some of the humor and dialogue work, but other moments feel more awkward than charming.
There’s also a sense that the story relies a bit too much on convenience. Certain plot points resolve very quickly, especially when it comes to the central lie. When things finally come to a head, it wraps up pretty fast, which lowers the stakes. It fits the tone of the film, but it also contributes to it feeling more generic and formulaic rather than something that stands out.
If you’ve seen the marketing, you know exactly what you’re getting. You, Me, and Tuscany is a cute, charming film that knows what it is. The audience reactions—laughing, reacting to the romance, buying into the big moments—help elevate the experience. It’s the kind of movie that works well in a group setting, especially with people who enjoy romcoms.
This isn’t a film I see myself revisiting, and I don’t expect it to land anywhere near my favorites of 2026. But it is a harmless, fun watch. It’s not something you need to rush out to theaters for, but if you enjoy this genre, you’ll probably have a good enough time with it. It doesn’t do anything particularly new or great, but it’s cute and enjoyable for what it is, and sometimes that’s enough.
There has also been some discussion around You, Me, and Tuscany potentially helping revitalize the romcom genre, particularly with Black leads at the center. It’ll be interesting to see if that actually plays out depending on how the film performs and whether it leads to more projects like this getting greenlit.
Overall, if you’re into these kinds of films, you’ll likely enjoy it. If you’re not, this probably won’t change your mind. And if you are looking for something that breaks away from clichés and does something new, this isn’t that. But as a casual watch, especially once it hits streaming, it’s easy to throw on and have a decent time with.
Rating: 6.5/10