Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 3.0
Beautiful in a number of ways!
Under the Tuscan Sun is a pleasant story, bolstered by the undeniable appeal of a wonderful actress. Diane Lane far outshines the various inadequacies of the story and its script. Granted, Ms. Lane could coast through this bit of fluff relying on little more than her luminescent beauty alone, yet she provides plenty of texture and nuance to her role as a writer/reviewer looking to rebound from a particularly painful divorce.Lane's character, Frances is persuaded to take the place of two lesbian friends on a guided tour of Tuscany (under the banner of "We're Gay... and Away"). Believably or not, she leaves the tour mid-bus ride to purchase a small villa in need of a lot of repair. The "uprooting your life on a whim" device is a little trite, but then who hasn't fantasized about a dramatic relocation as the cure for a life crisis? From there the story (what little there is of it) balances between a voyage of personal discovery and the tale of an Italian money pit (a lire loser perhaps).Sandra Oh does well as Frances' pregnant friend and Lindsay Duncan catches notice in a poorly defined role as the local eccentric expatriate, but neither actress is given much purpose other than to provide dialogue and the occasional mild shock. The real costar here is the gorgeous scenery of Tuscan Italy, so much so that I'd recommend this movie to anyone contemplating a vacation to that region.The ultimate verdict regarding Under the Tuscan Sun is that it is light fare, that provides a visual feast combining the wonderful appeal of one of Hollywood's truly great beauties along with some of the most romantic countryside you'll ever see. Women will enjoy Lane's growing empowerment and self-discovery, while men will simply enjoy watching her, and all will treasure the locale and the people of Tuscany.