With Valentine’s Day approaching, it’s the season to watch movies with happy endings and rom-coms that bring us some semblance of joy in a tumultuous time. La Dolce Villa
is another addition to Netflix’s rom-com roster, though it’s certainly less of a human romance and more of a love letter to Italy’s countryside. Set in the ficтιтious town of Montezara, La Dolce Villa is a feel-good film that forgoes proper tension-building for a more headache-free delivery. The result is a mixed bag that I enjoyed occasionally, though its inability to spark a greater emotional reaction is the film’s greatest weakness.
Three years after the death of her mother, 24-year-old Olivia (Maia Reficco) is fed up with aimlessly working random jobs across Europe and, after accidentally getting off at the wrong train station, discovers the charm and beauty of Montezara, a small Italian town that’s seen better days. Eric (Scott Foley), Olivia’s father and a former chef turned restaurant consultant, is surprised and unhappy when she decides to buy an Italian villa under the one-euro program, much to the excitement of Montezara’s mayor, Francesca (Violante Placido), who’s attempting to revitalize her town and bring people back to it.
La Dolce Villa Is A Feel-Good Movie With No Stakes
The rom-com’s plot has little stakes, but that doesn’t prevent it from being a feel-good film. I was content watching Eric trying to convince Olivia the villa was a bad idea before ultimately caving and settling into the changes life was throwing his way. The film is very airy and light, as there’s little uncertainty regarding the characters. They’re in a jovial atmosphere with little to worry about. Even when Olivia complains about being of a generation with no real prospects in terms of jobs, security, etc. I had to laugh considering she has the money to renovate a whole villa, but I digress.
But I can appreciate La Dolce Villa’s themes. Eric and Olivia are in opposition when it comes to their views on change. Olivia is fine living in the uncertainty of life because it’s led her to Montezara, a place that has captured her heart so much she decided to put down roots. Eric, on the other hand, is fearful of what the future brings and is less confident about leaping into something new. These perspectives cause the father-daughter duo to clash at times, but the film pulls back on delving too deep into that tension lest it takes away from the exceptionally light tone.
I often felt like I was on a stress-free rollercoaster ride — a forgettable experience that is enjoyable while it lasts but doesn’t tease other feelings from us…
This is both good and bad, but at least it’s occasionally interesting. The film’s main romance is superseded by the characters’ love for Montezara, and Italy in general. It’s a love that pushes the characters to take chances and lead with their hearts, and it’s honestly the heart of the film as it stirs the characters’ pᴀssion and encourages them to fight for something. It’s about them individually, sure, but the love they have for Montezara is what keeps the film afloat.
La Dolce Villa’s Romance Is Sadly Tame
It’s Inoffensive Entertainment That Doesn’t Ask Much From Us
La Dolce Villa is rather harmless. It lives solely off its charm and scenic beauty. Its characters are thinly drawn and their motivations — as well as any hurdles they face — are handled with little fanfare and effort. In such a tension-free rom-com, the stakes are practically non-existent. A final twist is meant to give the plot some oomph, but the characters deal with its consequences so quickly that it doesn’t have much of a lasting effect. Even Eric, who struggles with what to do about his consulting business the longer he stays in Italy, doesn’t seem very torn about the direction his life is going.
The film’s romance is barely there. I’m not sure why movies have become so chaste, but Eric and Francesca — beyond having little chemistry — don’t have a relationship worth pᴀssionately rooting for. We may know they’re going to get together as soon as they meet, but La Dolce Villa, helmed by Mean Girls director Mark Waters, is severely lacking when it comes to portraying any yearning or genuine desire that should come with these romances. I’m not saying the film should be rated R, but a lot more spark would’ve done wonders to cover up the weaker aspects of the story.
I often felt like I was on a stress-free rollercoaster ride — a forgettable experience that is enjoyable while it lasts but doesn’t tease other feelings from us (aside from our occasional attention wandering). There’s little to do but vicariously soak up the beautiful Italian views (the film was sH๏τ in Tuscany, among other locations in Italy) and dally with the sun-drenched smiles and vibes of the characters. Admittedly, this is not the worst way to spend an hour and a half, but you might find yourself doing other things while La Dolce Villa plays in the background.
