Product: Under the Tuscan Sun (2003)
Rating: 3.0
Has its moments, but too implausible and heavy-handed.
What I liked about this film was the theme of self-discovery and this wounded woman making time for herself. Also, you cannot totally dis a film with the achingly handsome Raoul (forget his last name, but he played Marcello.) I am a chick-flick loving female and he was just gorgeous, even when he was dumping her.However, some elements were too obvious. She's closed off emotionally and sexually, and can't find the snake that's just entered her house. Gee, what must the SNAKE symbolize? Oh, and just before she physically hooks up with the scrumptious Marcello, whom she has just met, a KITTEN appears. There's some nasty-word foreboding going on!I don't care how hurt you are. It never makes good sense to drive an hour with a man whom you just met in a foreign country. I can suspend disbelief, but that was just foolish, even in a chick flick.Additionally, the animation sequence of the sun setting and rising during the kiss was jarring. Same for the strange movement when she gazed into the old picture.I did enjoy Sandra Oh's performance, and even the sterotyped eccentric Lindsey Duncan had her moments. But the sum of the parts do not make a whole. It's worth renting, but not buying.I was most disappointed with the dependent-victim theme. Frances loses her life, finds hunky lover, loses hunky lover and begins to realize that perhaps the world revolves around more than her having a man. MAYBE her happiness can spring from inside, as in that of emotionally healthy people. This point would have been a great stopping point. But, no, we have to bring the young, handsome failed writer to rescue her psyche and self-esteem, and prove that she will not be happy until Prince Charming seeks her out.The stars are mostly for the beauty of the cinematography the contribution of the bit players. Sorry, fans.