"You, Me & Tuscany" is the latest romantic comedy to stamp its passport in Italy, featuring "The Little Mermaid" star Halle Bailey and "Black Bag" star Regé-Jean Page. Directed by Kat Coiro, the film aims to evoke the spirit of beloved romantic comedies like "Roman Holiday" and "Under the Tuscan Sun," while also drawing comparisons to "While You Were Sleeping" in its plot structure. Released theatrically by Universal, the film tests the waters for original rom-coms in an era where the genre has largely migrated to streaming platforms.

The story follows Anna (Halle Bailey), a culinary school dropout reeling from her mother's death and a recent firing from a house-sitting job. After a chance encounter with Italian real estate agent Matteo (Lorenzo de Moor) in a New York hotel bar, Anna impulsively travels to Italy. Unable to find accommodation, she squats at Matteo's conveniently empty villa in Tuscany. When Matteo's family discovers her presence, Anna fabricates a story, pretending to be engaged to Matteo. This simple lie quickly complicates as she spends more time with the warm, if stereotypical, Italian family, and finds herself drawn to Matteo's attractive cousin and adopted brother, Michael (Regé-Jean Page).

Tuscany itself serves as a central character in the film. The narrative immersion invites audiences into the region's culture and customs, showcasing local summer festivals and traditions like barrel racing. While some critics lauded the film for capturing the beauty of the region through sweeping landscapes and historic architecture, others found the Tuscan scenery indifferently shot and unimaginatively deployed, serving mostly as a screensaver-style backdrop rather than an integral part of the storytelling.

A significant aspect of any rom-com is the chemistry between its leads, and "You, Me & Tuscany" elicits mixed reactions. Proponents celebrate the palpable attraction between Bailey and Page, stating their chemistry sells the premise, creating a sizzling love story. Regé-Jean Page, in his first romantic role since his acclaimed performance in "Bridgerton," demonstrates an effortless charm and magnitude, with his character Michael carrying the weight of family responsibility while harboring resentment for his prodigal brother. Bailey's Anna, initially not seeking love, embarks on a personal journey, grappling with grief and rediscovering her passion for cooking, which Michael and the Costa family help reignite. Her natural charisma also draws out Michael's more playful side. However, critics argued that despite both actors being attractive and appealing, their chemistry never truly rises above cordial, hindered by a PG-13 sexlessness and faint script lines that burden their characters with more backstory than personality. Page also showcases his singing talent with a rendition of Mario's "Let Me Love You."

The supporting cast adds a rich flavor to the narrative. Stella Pecollo's Francesca, Matteo's sister, provides comedic relief with her secret love affair, while Marco Calvani's Lorenzo, a taxi driver, offers earnest support to Anna. Even Anna's best friend, Claire (Aziza Scott), maintains a presence from stateside, enhancing the central love story.

Ultimately, "You, Me & Tuscany" plays with familiar rom-com tropes, aiming to remind audiences why they love the genre. While it delivers on its promise of a warm, familiar, and filling experience for some, others found it a canned-feeling exercise, illustrating the difficulty of crafting an airy bauble like its predecessors. Critics noted its listless writing, gauche brand placement, and a stock-footage aesthetic that made it resemble direct-to-streaming content, despite its theatrical release. The film's reception will be a key indicator for major studios regarding the viability of investing in original romantic comedies for the big screen once again. "You, Me & Tuscany" premiered in theaters on April 10.