“You, Me, and Tuscany” Is A Swoon-Worthy, Fun Whirlwind — But Is It Worth Watching? My Full Review

Listen … I got invited by Universal Pictures to an advanced girls’ night out screening of You, Me, and Tuscany, and I’m not even gonna lie — I had the BEST time with my friends. And since I absolutely love a good rom-com, and we really need more Black-led rom-coms, I’ve been excited about this movie from the second I heard about it. So with wine, popcorn, and a whole room full of women (and men) ready to giggle and kick their feet up, you know we had a time!

Not only is this movie funny, romantic, and a little dramatic in the very best way, it’s honestly perfect for a girls’ night out. But that leads us to the question of the day — is You, Me, and Tuscany worth watching on the big screen? Or should you just wait for it to hit streaming? Let’s get into it.

Is You, Me, and Tuscany Worth Watching?

Short answer? Absolutely baby! But if you’re currently single, be prepared!

This is one of those movies that’ll have you laughing out loud one minute, then quietly spiraling about your love life during the next. But it’s also giving “I need to book a trip to Italy immediately.”

So here’s what you need to know before watching.

First … here’s what You, Me, and Tuscany is actually about (no spoilers) …

Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) stars as Anna, a young woman who has abandoned her dreams of becoming a chef and is now drifting through her twenties with a series of bad choices.

When Anna loses her house-sitting job (and housing) in one fell swoop, a chance encounter with Matteo—a handsome Italian who happens to have a villa sitting empty in Tuscany—inspires her to jet off for Italy, against the advice of her always-honest bestie, Claire.  

But Anna’s plan to crash at Matteo’s villa, without permission, just for one night, falls apart when Matteo’s mother, Gabriella, shows up at the house unexpectedly.

In a panic, Anna allows Gabriella to believe that she is Matteo’s fiancée. That little lie becomes a big problem when Matteo’s cousin, Michael (Regé-Jean Page; Bridgerton), shows up, and Anna discovers that the heat between them may ignite a fire that will transform her life. 

Now Here’s What Works

This movie is FUNNY. Like, laugh-out-loud funny. We were literally screaming at the screen and gasping together. So it’s one of those films best watched with community (like Sinners).

And the romance is swoonworthy! It’s a bit of a slow burn, but it’s sooo GOOD. If you love rom-coms or romance books, this is definitely gonna be your vibe. The tension, the longing, the little secret looks, they did what needed to be done. And Regé and Halle are wonderful on screen together.

Plus, Tuscany looks BEAUTIFUL. Between the vineyards, the food, and the cozy family dinners, this movie will have you ready to pack a bag and romanticize your entire life. Just like Anna did.

This also doesn’t feel like just another white rom-com written by a bunch of white folks who decided to just throw in a few Black leads for the plot. (And when I say plot, you know I really mean “for a quick paycheck”.) You, Me, and Tuscany truly does feel like a Black rom-com, and I LOVE that for us.

The humor, the energy, the characters? And the MUSIC??

Let me just say, the budget was budgeting. Will Packer has always been great at using culturally specific songs to drive emotions, and this film is no different. I absolutely LOVE that there’s an Olivia Dean song in this! Like, literally fangirled because she’s blown up recently, and to hear her music on screen felt like such a win for not just her but for the lover girls all around the world, who love love.

But Here’s What Doesn’t Work

Ummm …

Maybe I have to watch this one again to find a good complaint, because at the moment I can’t think of one. I will say, though, I did go from laughing to wanting to cry a few times.

And a few people have already said they don’t want to be SAD during a rom-com. You know, since com is supposed to stand for comedy. And I get it.

Rom-coms are supposed to feel GOOD. So being sad kind of defeats the purpose.

But the film itself isn’t sad.

It’s living a life and knowing what grief feels like. Grieving a loved one, or a life you thought you’d have by now, that’s what makes this one emotional. And what’s a movie without a few emotions, baby?

So, depending on where you are in life right now, this movie may hit a little too close to home. And if you’re single? Just know you might leave like “wow … love is beautiful … but where’s my happy moment?” And that’s not the writer’s, director’s, or producer’s fault. That’s just my Virgo brain doing what it does best — finding an issue that needs to be fixed.

So, should you watch You, Me, and Tuscany?

Yes! A thousand times, yes! Even if you are single, like moi. Just bring some tissues!

And drink an extra glass of wine, baby. Have a cry session over pasta afterwards if you must.

But go see this film in theaters! Then watch it again when it’s streaming. It’s honestly such a great movie, especially for those of us in need of a little keke sesh with our friends!

If you’re not single, leave your man at home!

Unless he doesn’t mind you drooling over a shirtless Regé-Jean Page.

Trigger Warnings: Grief and loss, emotional vulnerability, romantic longing

Final Thoughts: You, Me, and Tuscany is absolutely worth watching!

This cutesy, funny, romantic, and unexpectedly emotional film was a breath of fresh air from all the Black horror films we’ve been getting in theaters. And I truly hope they continue to release more BLACK rom-coms on the big screen. Sometimes I just wanna curl up with my bowl of popcorn, in front of a big screen, and laugh! And this is the kind of film that makes you want to fall in love, book a trip, drink wine in a vineyard, and maybe cry a little on the way home. It’s also chaotic in all the very best ways!

Think Tyler Perry, without all the trauma. Just a bit of messy, PG-13 “adult fun in Italy!

Escapism Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 4 out of 5 stars for a romantic and emotionally immersive film, but it did make me a tad bit sad

Movie Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5 out of 5 stars for a truly fantastic Black rom-com I can’t wait to watch again and again

When (not if) … when you get a chance to finally see You, Me, and Tuscany, in theaters, come back and let me know in the comments below, if it was worth watching!