You, Me & Tuscany is that rare kind of romcom you just don’t see much of these days.
Starring Halle Bailey (The Little Mermaid) and Regé-Jean Page (Bridgerton), it’s about a young woman Anna (Bailey) who crashes an empty Italian villa and winds up posing as the owner Matteo’s fiancée.
Her little lie becomes a big problem when she develops a growing attraction to the handsome Michael (Page), who is Matteo’s cousin.
Page says Hollywood goes through phases with the types of films it makes.
“I think romcoms haven’t been in theatres for a moment, but I think that there’s a real hunger for that,” Page told ABC News.
“I think people want to get together and they want to feel things. They want to laugh. They want to love. They want to cry in the theatre.
“They want to walk out feeling good about themselves and thinking, ‘Hey, love is possible. My life is possible. I can travel.’
“I can do whatever it is that I want to do to unlock myself and live my best life.”
‘We are so back’
Page is right about the sentiment that’s out there at the moment.
A snapshot of online comments about the trailer suggests that the film is highly anticipated by fans who can’t wait to head back to movie theatres.
From those looking forward to a “sincere and simple” romcom that just feels good, to others excited about The Little Mermaid meeting The Duke of Hastings in Italy, people are getting ready for a love story that isn’t built on struggle or trauma bonding.
Others have pointed out how rare it is for a romcom to get a theatrical release and not go straight to streaming: “We are so back!!!!!” one user wrote.
Anna doesn’t have it all together and Halle Bailey says that’s relatable. (Supplied: Universal Studios)
Bailey says that while she differs from her character, whose untapped potential takes a while to surface, there is “such power” in finding your purpose.
“I think that I was grateful to find what I love to do from a young age,” Bailey said.
“But I think it’s also super relatable to not have it all together and not really know and get thrown off course sometimes.
“And I was very inspired by Anna’s story because as a young woman I’m still finding myself every single day.”
Bailey knows so many young women will see themselves in Anna.
“I think it’s really relatable to watch a young woman go through struggles on screen but get through it, and it’s inspiring,” she said.
“It’ll make you feel like you want to do better in your life, you know?”
An Australian connection
Director Kat Coiro (Marry Me, Matlock) says the objective of the film is to bring joy to the lives of audiences.
“We want to bring the romcom back to the theatres, baby,” Coiro said.
She says You, Me & Tuscany is a truly international production — and it has an Australian connection.
“Danny Ruhlmann is an Australian cinematographer and a filmmaker’s dream,” Coiro said.
If you’ve seen Anyone But You starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, set in Sydney, you’ve seen his work.
“I was looking for someone who could shoot real and gritty and down to earth, yet make everything and everyone look gorgeous in every shot, and he knew the assignment and he nailed it,” Coiro said.
You, Me & Tuscany features an international cast and crew. (Supplied: Universal Studios)
The perfect escape
Producer Will Packer (Girls Trip, Ride Along) says the movie is a perfect escape right now.
“It’s a tumultuous time in the world for many respects, for a lot of people,” Packer said.
“A lot of people are having a hard time in real life.
“And we wanted this movie to specifically be seen in cinemas so that people could put their phones down, turn off the news, not worry about what’s happening in real life for just a little while.
“For just a few hours come and have an escape and a good time.
“We wanted this to be enjoyable.
“We wanted this to be a movie that allows people to hope and aspire to a circumstance and an environment that’s beyond their own.
“When movies do that, to me, that is absolutely the best version of what our industry accomplishes.”
You, Me & Tuscany is in cinemas on April 9