• 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
  • About Us
        • Contact Us
        • Our History
        • Meet Our Staff
        • Photos to own
        • Shop
        • CR Media platforms
        • Electronic Edition
        • Subscribe
  • Advertising
  • CR for Kids
  • Radio/Podcasts
        • Catholic Review Radio
        • Protagonistas de Fe
        • In God’s Image
  • 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: ‘Mortal Kombat II’

Home Viewing Roundup for May 4, 2026

Movie Review: ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

Movie Review: ‘Sheep Detectives’

Movie Review: ‘Michael’

Movie Review: ‘Lee Cronin’s The Mummy’

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 |

  • Meet the permanent deacons to be ordained May 9 at the Cathedral of Mary Our Queen
  • ‘Present’: Archbishop Lori ordains 14 permanent deacons at solemn, yet joy-filled Mass
  • Archdiocesan staff celebrates Archbishop Lori’s 75th birthday
  • UFOs, extraterrestrial life explored at Vatican parish event
  • As justices consider birthright citizenship, displaced mom says her US-born child ‘should belong’

| CURRENT EDITION |

| Vatican News |

Vatican continues dialogue with German bishops regarding blessing for same-sex couples, cardinal says

Pope Leo thanks Canary Islands as hantavirus-stricken ship arrives in Tenerife

Bishop Varden on hope, AI, patience — and not weaponizing Christianity

Leo XIV: A pope of order for chaotic times

‘My soul magnifies the Lord!’: Pope Leo marks anniversary of election at Marian shrine in Pompeii

| Catholic Review Radio |

| Movie & Television Reviews |

Movie Review: ‘Mortal Kombat II’

Home Viewing Roundup for May 4, 2026

Movie Review: ‘The Devil Wears Prada 2’

Movie Review: ‘Sheep Detectives’

Movie Review: ‘Michael’

| En español |

‘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

Del mundo de la moda en New York a dirigir programas de liderazgo femenino

Católicos de Baltimore llevan la voz de los migrantes al Capitolio de los Estados Unidos

Una Ministra Laica al Servicio del Pueblo

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

  • Archbishop Lori will ordain 12 transitional deacons May 16
  • ‘Presentes’: el arzobispo Lori ordena a 14 diáconos permanentes en una misa solemne y llena de alegría
  • Vatican continues dialogue with German bishops regarding blessing for same-sex couples, cardinal says
  • Trump says he plans to raise Jimmy Lai imprisonment during China visit
  • Bishop Bransfield, whose scandal rocked West Virginia diocese, dead at 82
  • Pope Leo thanks Canary Islands as hantavirus-stricken ship arrives in Tenerife
  • Movie Review: ‘Mortal Kombat II’
  • Radio Interview: Why a world-class pianist gave up a promising career to become a priest
  • As justices consider birthright citizenship, displaced mom says her US-born child ‘should belong’

Search

Membership

Catholic Media Assocation

Maryland-Delaware-DC Press Association

The Associated Church Press

© 2026 CATHOLIC REVIEW MEDIA, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED