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You, Me, & Tuscany – Review
You, Me, & Tuscany – Budget of $18 million – 1 hour and 45 minutes
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Housesitter Anna loses her job after the owner, Mrs. Dunn, catches her wearing her clothes. Anna calls her friend, hotel concierge Claire, for advice. Claire thinks Anna should go back to her first passion, cooking. Anna went to culinary school and dreamed of cooking in an Italian kitchen. However, she put her dream aside when her mother fell ill and started housesitting to make ends meet. After her mother died, Anna hasn’t been able to restart her life. Anna arrives at Claire’s hotel and begs for a room because she is several months behind on her rent. Claire says no and offers a discount for dinner at the bar. Anna sits down, and Mateo overhears her order honey for her fries across the bar. Her order intrigues him, and they start a conversation. Mateo shows her pictures of his family, friends, and villa. He bought the villa to please his family, but he didn’t want to get into the family’s restaurant business. So he left and hasn’t been returned since. Anna tells him about her dream to go to Italy. She still has the ticket her mother bought her. Mateo encourages her to go. They take a picture together, and Mateo invites Anna to his room. Anna freshens up in the bathroom to find Mateo sleeping. She holds his phone to his face, unlocks it, and airdrops photos to herself. Anna wakes to a note on Mateo’s pillow. He reiterates that she should go to Italy and order breakfast on his account. Anna tells Claire that she’s going to Italy with no reservations and $500 in her savings account. Claire fears Anna has lost her mind, but Anna leaves anyway.
Anna jumps into Lorenzo’s taxi, and he drives her to the cheapest hotel. However, every cheap hotel in Italy is booked for the Summer Festival. She finds a small Italian shop and attempts to take a picture. But she unknowingly steps into the street, and a green truck nearly hits her. Anna yells at the driver, enters the shop, and sees the sandwich of her dreams. Before she can purchase it, Michael puts a crate of wine on the counter and takes the sandwich. Anna is furious. She finds him outside, standing in front of his green truck. He laughs at her hotel predicament, tells her to wait at the bus stop, and gives her half his sandwich before leaving. Anna looks at the picture of Mateo’s villa. She zooms in and spots the address. She calls Lorenzo for a ride to the villa and uses a hide-a-key to get inside. She relaxes for the evening. Anna examines Mateo’s home in the morning and finds an engagement ring in the drawer. She puts it on her finger to admire it. Then, Anna hears noises downstairs. Anna tries to escape, but Mateo’s mother, Gabriella, and his grandmother find her. They hold in the living room before the police arrive. Gabriella sees the ring on Anna’s finger and screams with delight. She assumes Anna is marrying Mateo. Anna goes with the lie because she doesn’t want to go to jail. They invite her to their home to eat.
Anna seeks Lorenzo’s advice while he gives her a ride to Gabriella’s home because she can’t afford to change her ticket. He tells her to tell the truth or live the lie. Anna dines with the family and continues the fabrication. As they sit down, Michael approaches. He and Mateo are cousins. When Michael’s parents died, Mateo’s parents adopted Michael. They consider him a son. Michael wants to know why they haven’t heard of Anna until now. She states they wanted to keep the engagement a secret until Mateo returns. His family gushes over the chance to see Mateo again and praises Anna for bringing him back. Gabriella offers Michael’s vineyard for their wedding day. And she asks Michael to give Anna a tour. As Anna spends more time with Michael, she develops feelings for him and grows to admire his family. Can she keep up the lies when Mateo returns?
This romantic comedy is charming, funny, and spicy. The writer created enough foreshadowing to give Anna an excuse to go, a reason to stay, and information to make her lies believable. Also, Anna is comfortable with lying about her life. She does it on social media whenever she housesits for rich families. It allows her to escape her reality, so moving into Mateo’s home was easy. This film jumped from cable TV because of Mateo’s sister, Francesca. She says the wildest things and has perfect comedic timing. Don’t be surprised if you fall in love with Mateo’s family, too. They have unique and rich personalities. Also, Claire is the mature voice of the audience. She tells her friend to return to New York, get a housesitting job, and invest. She’s Anna’s north star. And the placement of Mario’s hit single is superb (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). And let’s not forget Italy. It plays a vital role in this film because the culture takes center stage. This film is an easy watch for date night.
I give it 3.5 out of 5 stars
I was going to wash it – Anna
So sorry, she just sold out – Michael
Stop borrowing other people’s lives and start working on your own – Claire
She has big knuckles – Mateo
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The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – Review
The Super Mario Galaxy Movie – Budget of $110 million – 1 hour and 38 minutes
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Princess Rosalina reads her children a bedtime story about the plumbers before putting them to bed. Then, she hears a loud boom outside. She takes down Bowser Jr.’s robot, but he captures her and one of her children, Luma. Bowser Jr. plans on using Rosalina’s powers to activate his Boomsday device. It was his father’s dream to create it and use it to destroy any planet that disrespected him. Before Bowser Jr. sets off on his father’s mission, he has one more thing to do: free Bowser. As Bowser Jr. explains his master plan, Luma escapes.
Luigi and Mario find Yoshi in a warp pipe. They bring him to the Mushroom Kingdom before Princess Peach’s birthday party. During the festivities, Mario finds Peach alone. She doesn’t like celebrating her birthday because she doesn’t know when she was born. Instead, her people celebrate the day they found her. Then, a beautiful swarm of stardust enters the atmosphere and illuminates the planet, but one crashes, leaving a crater. Luigi, Mario, Toad, Yoshi, and Peach find Luma in the crater. Luma explains what happened to Rosalina. She warned her children to find Peach if she was ever in danger. Luma begs Peach to save her mom. Peach and Toad, against her people’s wishes, leave a note and use a launch star to locate Princess Rosalina. In her note, she asks Mario to take care of her Kingdom.
Luigi asks Mario to talk to Bowser. Bowser believes that he has been a model prisoner and asks for an early release. Mario refuses. Then, the castle starts to lift off the ground. Bowser Jr. attacks the Kingdom, but Mario, Luigi, and Yoshi bring everyone to safety. However, Bowser Jr. drops the castle in the Honeyhive Galaxy. Bowser and Mario get into a fight, and Mario steps on Bowser, deactivating his shrinking spell. However, Bowser turned a new leaf and chose to stand by his old enemies. When they approach the Honey Queen, she wants to put Mario and Luigi in the honey mines for ruining her crop. Bowser takes their place so they can find Princess Peach. After they leave, Bowser Jr. locates Bowser in the mines and beams his father to his ship. Now, he will avenge his father and destroy the remaining galaxies using power syphoned from Princess Rosalina. Can Mario and Luigi save Princess Peach, Princess Rosalina, and all the galaxies in the universe?
This film’s title doesn’t disappoint. Fans of the classic game enter an expansive world of galaxies, enemies, and powers. It’s amazing to see some of the hardest stages in the game come to life. The graphics don’t rely on standard computer animation. The backstories change genres and catch your eye with their vibrant colors. This sequel, like the first, doesn’t need the audience to be familiar with the video game. It relies on strong storytelling to explain character motivation and their powers. Unlike the first, this film has a soundtrack for the parents (FTC Affiliate Disclaimer). With classic tunes, you will dance in your seat while the children’s eyes glow. The story’s core is the relationship between parents and children. Rosalina will do anything to protect her children, and Bowser believes he’s been a terrible father, but Bowser Jr. remembers a strong, working dad who helped him dream big. This dynamic will be lost on the children, but the adults will see it clearly. There are mid-credit and post-credit scenes. The first is funny, but the second gives you a peek at Super Mario Bros. 3. This movie is for the entire family with zero sexual innuendos, great comedy, stunning graphics, a compelling story, and spectacular combat.
I give it 4.5 out of 5 stars
You can’t silence the truth; it only makes it louder – Lumalee
Nothing’s more dangerous than a friend – Bowser Jr.
Don’t ask me personal questions – Fox McCloud
People don’t change – Luigi
Well, I guess we’ll never know – Mario
The days are long, but the years are short – Kamek
Yoshi! – Yoshi
Do I look like a snitch? – Wart
Still working through my demons, I suppose – Bowser
No one hurts my kid – Princess Rosalina
Dear Mustache – Princess Peach
So some cool dinosaur shows up, and he’s now part of the group – Toad
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