This film directed by Mark Waters and starring Scott Foley, Violante Placido and Maia Reficco among others, is a beautiful feel-good movie that will delight lovers of the romantic genre.
La Dolce Villa is set in the invented Italian village of Montezara, which is actually a mixture of several locations (Tuscany, Lazio and surroundings).
It is clearly inspired by Under the Tuscan Sun, with several plot points and even the soundtrack evoking that film.
The plot follows a father who travels to Italy to convince his daughter not to buy a Tuscan villa for a dollar, but both end up finding much more in a beautiful Italian town.
With a sweet, light, Hallmark-esque aesthetic, the film is sustained more by its scenic beauty than its script or characters, which are underdeveloped and feature many clichés.
Motivations and obstacles are handled with some depth. The romance is barely noticeable: Eric and Francesca have chemistry and their relationship manages to thrill. But even with these flaws and lack of depth, Dolce Villa is still enjoyable to watch.
The film is enjoyable to watch, as it is visually appealing and the story is light and emotionally light.
In it the characters travel continuously by different means (car, bike, train...) It starts with a scene shot in the train station of Rome Trastevere.
From the beginning we know how the typical romantic story will unfold.
Beautiful landscapes on an old bicycle are mixed with the works to fix up the house and the enjoyment of the local gastronomy, giving an appetising and loving result.
It's bright, cheerful, has funny supporting characters, Scott Foley as charming as ever, Italian food and music, and a lot of fun.
