• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Catholic Review

Catholic Review

Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

Menu
  • Home
  • News
        • Local News
        • World News
        • Vatican News
        • Obituaries
        • Featured Video
        • En Español
        • Sports News
        • Official Clergy Assignments
        • Schools News
  • Commentary
        • Contributors
          • Question Corner
          • George Weigel
          • Elizabeth Scalia
          • Michael R. Heinlein
          • Effie Caldarola
          • Guest Commentary
        • CR Columnists
          • Archbishop William E. Lori
          • Rita Buettner
          • Christopher Gunty
          • George Matysek Jr.
          • Mark Viviano
          • Father Joseph Breighner
          • Father Collin Poston
          • Amen Columns
  • Entertainment
        • Events
        • Movie & Television Reviews
        • Arts & Culture
        • Books
        • Recipes
        • CR Kids
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Shop
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
        • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • Kids
  • Radio/Podcasts
        • Catholic Review Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
        • In God’s Image
        • “In Charity and Truth” with Archbishop William E. Lori
  • News Tips
  • Subscribe
Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page star in a scene from the movie "You, Me & Tuscany." The OSV News classification is A-III -- adults. The Motion Picture Association of America rating is PG-13 -- parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13. (OSV News photo/Giulia Parmigiani, Universal)

Movie Review: ‘You, Me & Tuscany’

April 12, 2026
By John Mulderig
OSV News
Filed Under: Feature, Movie & Television Reviews

NEW YORK (OSV News) – For the price of a movie ticket, viewers can enjoy a brief sojourn in the Italian countryside thanks to director Kat Coiro’s romantic comedy “You, Me & Tuscany” (Universal).

As scripted by Ryan Engle, however, there’s more love than logic to be found in the film. Additionally, some wayward morality and humor, while incidental, indicate that only grown-ups should tag along for this picturesque ride.

Unemployed New York-based housesitter Anna (Halle Bailey) is at a low ebb in her life when she has a chance encounter with traveling Italian businessman Matteo (Lorenzo De Moor). He regales his newfound companion with tales and images of his idyllic, mostly unoccupied home in the titular region of Italy and of the boisterous clan amidst whom he was raised.

An aspiring chef who, as it happens, was planning a trip to the Bel Paese with her mother before mom’s untimely death from cancer, Anna is emboldened — much to the chagrin of her sarcastically sensible best friend Claire (Aziza Scott) — to use the plane ticket she had long ago purchased for an impulsive trip across the Atlantic.

Upon arriving in Matteo’s small hometown, though, Anna belatedly discovers that the community is celebrating its annual festival and there is not a hotel room to be had in the entire region. So, seeing no alternative, she takes up residence in Matteo’s underutilized dwelling.

No sooner has Anna settled in than she’s discovered by Matteo’s mother, Gabriella (Isabella Ferrari), and his formidable grandmother, Nonna Alessia (Stefania Casini). To avoid arrest for tresspassing, Anna spontaneously pretends to be Matteo’s fiancee.

Although she’s thereupon embraced by most of Matteo’s family, from whom he has temporarily become estranged, Anna clashes with his adoptive brother, Michael (Regé-Jean Page). Yet, predictably, it’s not long before their mutual antagonism gives way to a very different emotion.

The stilted complications that follow — despite her feelings for Michael, Anna finds it impossible to abandon her ruse and tell the truth — are offset by the lovely landscape, the pleasurable lifestyle and a collection of amiable, if stereotyped, characters. Still, moviegoers committed to biblical values will have to endure some unwelcome interludes as the plot unfolds.

Anna’s initial meeting with Matteo, for instance, ends with a visit to his hotel room where the two prepare for a spur-of-the-moment roll in the hay. Though they’re comically impeded from realizing their plan, Anna and Matteo’s potential commitment-free clutch is treated in a thoroughly romanticized manner.

Matteo and Michael’s married sister Francesca (Stella Pecollo), moreover, literally boasts about the affair she’s carrying on with a local plumber. She paradoxically presents this relationship as helpful to the maintenance of her marriage.

Yet the point is for the audience to garner laughs from Francesca’s misguided adventures. Along these lines — presumably for the amusement of gamers familiar with the Super Mario universe — Francesca’s adulterous partner turns out to be named Luigi.

Such distasteful moments are the exception rather than the rule in Anna’s story. So mature moviegoers can slough them off and concentrate instead on her amore for Michael — and, no less importantly, on her magnificent-looking bruschetta.

The film contains skewed values, including implicit approval of casual sex and a frivolous treatment of adultery, a few sexual jokes, at least one instance each of profanity and rough language, several milder oaths as well as occasional crude and crass talk. The OSV News classification is A-III – adults. The Motion Picture Association rating is PG-13 – parents strongly cautioned. Some material may be inappropriate for children under 13.

Read More Movie & Television Reviews

Movie Review: ‘Super Troopers 3’

Movie Review: ‘One Night Only’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on the horizon

Movie Review: ’72 Hours’

Movie Review: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on the horizon

Copyright © 2026 OSV News

Print Print

Primary Sidebar

John Mulderig

View all posts from this author

For the latest news delivered twice a week via email or text message, sign up to receive our free enewsletter.

| MOST POPULAR |

  • Black Catholic religious sisters grace Baltimore at national event as they seek new members
  • Deacon Goedeke suspended from ministry and employment following arrest
  • Clarksville parishioners named Knights of Columbus International Family of the Year
  • Hundreds of Hispanic catechists and liturgical ministers come together to celebrate faith and growth
  • Nearly 1,500 guns collected since 2023 as Archdiocese of Baltimore’s buyback continues to grow

| CURRENT EDITION |

| Vatican News |

World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul to be ‘a celebration of hope,’ archbishop says

Pope Leo XIV to visit 10 cities in South America in November

Pope encourages Catholics to deepen prayer through Liturgy of the Hours

Pope Leo XIV’s August prayer intention is ‘for evangelization in the city’

Pope Leo writes to 97-year-old cardinal who spent 18 years in labor camps

| Catholic Review Radio |

| Movie & Television Reviews |

Movie Review: ‘Super Troopers 3’

Movie Review: ‘One Night Only’

Home viewing roundup: What’s available to stream and what’s on the horizon

Movie Review: ’72 Hours’

Movie Review: ‘Spider-Man: Brand New Day’

| En español |

Cientos de catequistas y ministros litúrgicos hispanos se reúnen para celebrar la fe y la formación

La Arquidiócesis de Baltimore responde al creciente control de la inmigración

‘Presentes’: el arzobispo Lori ordena a 14 diáconos permanentes en una misa solemne y llena de alegría

La Renovación Carismática Hispana atrae al arzobispo Lori a la sesión de formación

Una fe que pasó de resistir a cambiar estructuras

Footer

Our Vision

Real Life. Real Faith. 

Catholic Review Media communicates the Gospel and its impact on people’s lives in the Archdiocese of Baltimore and beyond.

Our Mission

Catholic Review Media provides intergenerational communications that inform, teach, inspire and engage Catholics and all of good will in the mission of Christ through diverse forms of media.

Contact

Catholic Review
320 Cathedral Street
Baltimore, MD 21201
443-524-3150
mail@CatholicReview.org

 

Social Media

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Recent

  • 2 apostles of Sacred Heart meet in Denver; thousands venerate St. Margaret Mary Alacoque relics
  • Radio Interview: From addiction to purpose
  • Movie Review: ‘Super Troopers 3’
  • Nearly 1,500 guns collected since 2023 as Archdiocese of Baltimore’s buyback continues to grow
  • World Youth Day 2027 in Seoul to be ‘a celebration of hope,’ archbishop says
  • Msgr. Rossetti resumes deliverance ministry after removal as DC exorcist
  • Clarksville parishioners named Knights of Columbus International Family of the Year
  • Blanche signals potential restrictions on mifepristone by mail coming from Trump administration
  • The work ethic incarnate

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2026 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED