Scott Foley as Eric Field with Maia Reficco as Olivia in the romcom, La Dolce Villa.
Image: X/@NetflixTudum
If there’s one thing movies love, it’s a classic father-daughter storyline. And if there’s one thing Hollywood loves even more, it’s a dad trying to do his best Liam Neeson impression, minus the particular set of skills.
Netflix's "La Dolce Villa," a film that takes us to Italy because, let’s be honest, some of us are living through our screens at this point.
Shot in the picturesque village of San Gregorio da Sassola (which, for those of us who don’t have Italian geography memorised, is near Rome but often lumped in with Tuscany for that extra bit of romance), "La Dolce Villa" is a visual treat.
Think cobblestone streets, golden sunsets, and a villa in dire need of fixing. Because naturally, what’s a feel-good movie without a house in ruins and a questionable life decision?
Scott Foley stars as Eric Field, a widowed father - emphasis on hot widowed father - who is not at all thrilled when his daughter Olivia (Maia Reficco) ditches the US to buy a one-euro villa in Italy. Yes, one euro, which is R19,27.
Olivia, who has inherited some money, wants to fix it up and stay in Italy, her mother’s homeland. But Eric, having sworn off Italy after a tragic honeymoon experience, is convinced this is a disaster in the making. Because parents never project their trauma onto their kids, right?
Cue Eric storming off to Italy, fully prepared to drag his daughter back to Ohio. Instead, he finds himself knee-deep in renovations and flirtations with the town’s impossibly elegant mayor, Francesca (Violante Placido).
Olivia (Maia Reficco) decided to buy a villa for one Euro and use all the money she inherited to renovate it.
Image: X/@NetflixTudum
Let’s talk about the storyline. If you’ve seen "Under the Tuscan Sun," "Mamma Mia!" or "Letters to Juliet", you already know exactly how this goes.
A person resists change. Change happens anyway. Love is found. Sunsets are admired. There’s a minor crisis, which is resolved in the most non-threatening way possible. Rinse and repeat. And yet, that’s exactly the charm of films like this.
Not every movie needs to keep us on the edge of our seats. Some are just here to make us feel good, like a warm bowl of pasta or a perfect cappuccino on a slow morning.
"La Dolce Villa" doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and it doesn’t try to. It’s predictable, light, and sweet. There aren’t any laugh-out-loud moments, but the humour is gentle, and the romance is easy on the heart.
Will it change your life? No. But will you enjoy it while sipping a glass of wine and dreaming of your Italian escape? Absolutely. If you’re in the mood for a no-stress, picturesque romcom that does exactly what it says, "La Dolce Villa" is worth watching.
*** solid and enjoyable, though not groundbreaking.