When I saw that a new rom-com starring two of my faves, Halle Bailey and Regé-Jean Page, was set to debut the day before my birthday, I immediately sent the trailer to my husband and told him that my birthday plans were officially set. “Grab these tickets ASAP!” I texted. I couldn’t wait. I’m a huge rom-com lover, and as a Black woman, I was over the moon to see a rom-com coming to the big screen with a Black woman as the lead. We don’t often get to see our stories—especially ones filled with joy and romance—in theaters.
From The Notebook to How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, most rom-coms that dominate the box office center white women. While the ‘90s and early 2000s gave us a golden era of Black rom-coms with films like Love & Basketball and The Best Man, the genre has seen a noticeable decline in theatrical releases with Black leads since the early 2010s. And when a Black romance film does get the green light, it often comes with more drama, trauma, and struggle than its predominantly white counterparts. When that becomes the norm, it’s easy to forget that soft, cheesy, uplifting love stories can belong to Black girls, too.
In You, Me & Tuscany, Bailey and Page feel like the perfect pairing to bring that kind of whimsical, romantic Black joy to the big screen. Bailey shines as bright as the invisible halo that seems to rest over her beautiful, long locs, with an angelic voice and timeless beauty that draws you in instantly. Page brings the perfect combination of charm, emotional depth, and undeniable romantic energy that makes every girl swoon. Together, their chemistry is effortless. If you are looking for a giddy, hilarious, feel-good movie that reminds you of what it’s like to be in love again, this is it. Below, my full review of You, Me & Tuscany.
What is You, Me & Tuscany about?
You, Me & Tuscany follows the story of Anna (Halle Bailey), a young woman struggling to get her life together after a tragedy. When she meets a charming Italian stranger, Mateo (Lorenzo de Moor), during a night out, he casually mentions his family’s empty villa in Tuscany. Anna takes it as a sign, impulsively booking a flight to Italy in hopes of figuring out her life.
Things quickly take a turn when Anna is caught staying at the villa by Mateo’s family. In a moment of panic, and to avoid legal trouble, she allows them to believe she’s Mateo’s fiancée, setting off a tangled web of lies that only grow more complicated from there. Enter Michael (Regé-Jean Page), Mateo’s cousin, raised alongside him as his brother.
The two hate each other at first (as any good rom-com demands), but their tension soon gives way to undeniable chemistry. Chemistry they both try to ignore, given Anna’s supposed engagement. What follows is a hilarious, chaotic, and heartwarming journey that explores just how far one lie can go—and why, eventually, the life you are running from will catch up to you.
My Honest Review of You, Me & Tuscany
It’s refreshing, lighthearted, and funny
You, Me & Tuscany is the movie we all need right now. With the endless cycle of overwhelming headlines, it arrives at just the right time to remind us that life still can be joyful and romantic, if we want it to be.
It was especially refreshing to watch a film where a Black woman is not only desired, but fully seen and adored by a respectful, dashing man. One where the romance feels healthy, genuine, and not weighed down by unnecessary drama. It was just as refreshing to see a Black woman be unashamedly a bit of a mess. Her life is all over the place, and she learns from her mistakes in real time without having to be the usual “strong Black woman.”
“If you are looking for a giddy, hilarious, feel-good movie that reminds you of what it’s like to be in love again, this is it.”
As Black women, we are often conditioned to be strong, always put-together, and emotionally guarded. I loved watching Anna stumble her way into emotional vulnerability and softness without ever losing her confidence or self-respect. She was self-assured in her clumsiness, which is something we rarely get to see. It served as a beautiful reminder that our worth is not diminished by the mistakes we make or the tumbles we take.
The film was also genuinely funny. The comedic timing was on point. Many of the supporting characters brought hilarious and unexpected comedic relief at just the right moments. My entire theatre was laughing out loud, talking back to the screen, and overall enjoying the giggles this movie brought out of us. It felt communal in the best way.
It was just the right amount of sexy
When we think of romantic films, sex is often at the center of intimacy. And when a film features a woman with curves—especially a Black woman—the character can often be over-sexualized. I was so glad this film took a delightfully different approach. I’ve noticed some online commentary critiquing the lack of “spice,” but I’d like to challenge that perspective. Must we always equate romance and intimacy with sex in a romantic film?
You, Me & Tuscany is intimate without being overly sexual. Yes, we all cheer when Regé-Jean Page takes his shirt off (as we should), but the heart of the relationship between Michael and Anna is rooted in an emotional connection. They see each other in a way that no one else has seen them before, which is so evident on the screen. It’s playful, flirtatious, and genuinely sweet without relying on over-sexualization to carry the story.
It showcases realistic, curvy, unapologetic women
This was, without question, my favorite aspect of the film—especially as I happened to be having an Eat, Pray, Love-inspired birthday weekend of my own. It felt not only therapeutic but necessary to see a woman with curves portrayed as beautiful, desirable, and fully confident in her skin. Food, in this film, was what it should be: a source of joy, connection, and culture—not something to be measured, restricted, or moralized.
Anna’s wardrobe was chic, flattering, and intentional—highlighting the beauty of her curves rather than hiding them. I especially appreciated the inclusion of crop tops and other silhouettes that allowed her not-perfectly-flat stomach to simply exist. No shrinking. No disguising. No apology.
“If you’re a rom-com lover—and even if you’re not—I encourage you to see it while it’s in theaters. It deserves every bit of our love and support.”
Her body was free to be what it is: a grown woman’s body. And perhaps most importantly, her relationship with food was free, too. No diet culture. No protein tracking or obsession with macros. Just pleasure, presence, and fuel for the body and the soul. In today’s climate, with thinness back in our algorithms, this felt radical.
It showcases Black culture for all audiences
One of the biggest misconceptions about films that center Black characters is the idea that they are only “for” Black audiences. You, Me & Tuscany shatters this assumption. Yes, it’s a romantic comedy with two Black lead actors, and it proudly celebrates Black love on the big screen—but at its core, it’s not a Black story, it’s a human one. The plot is universally familiar, belonging to everyone regardless of race, culture, or ethnicity.
At the same time, the film is not color blind, which is equally important. Black culture is woven into the storyline and characters perfectly. From Anna worrying about her edges getting wet under the vineyard sprinklers to the natural use of African American Vernacular English between her and her best friend, cultural competency was taken with great care and without apology.
Black culture was a natural part of the movie, just as Italian culture was, which is exactly what we deserve regarding cultural representation. These elements do not isolate the audience; they simply enrich the relatability of the story. It’s a more honest representation of our shared humanity. The more we see stories that highlight the everyday happiness, humor, and normalcy of Black life, the more we begin to dismantle the narrow and often harmful narratives that have dominated media for far too long.
So, should you see You, Me & Tuscany?
Rom-coms may be a bit cheesy and cliché, but that’s what makes them rom-coms. I think we’ve forgotten that movies don’t have to be overly serious or profound to be worthy of our time, attention, or praise. Feel-good films have just as much of a place on the big screen as intense, weighty dramas do. Sometimes, we just need a kick-your-feet-up comfort movie—and that’s exactly what You, Me & Tuscany delivers.
This move is also the perfect reminder that sometimes you just have to make the move. You can book the ticket, take the trip, discover yourself, and fall in love with yourself. A happily ever after doesn’t have to be reserved for the movies because it’s unrealistic in real life. It gets to be our reality, too, if we want it to be.
All in all, I give You, Me & Tuscany a ten out of ten. The sweetness was effortless, the joy was contagious, and the comedy landed with perfect timing. If you’re a rom-com lover—and even if you’re not—I encourage you to see it while it’s in theaters. It deserves every bit of our love and support.
Caroline Sumlin
Caroline Sumlin is a writer, author, and content creator specializing in topics ranging from self-worth, lifestyle, wellness, motherhood, education, society, and culture. Caroline received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism from Howard University in Washington, DC. Driven by her passion for freedom and justice, Caroline crafts articles that urge readers to reflect more deeply and critically about themselves, their lives, and the world around them.
