The movie embodies the story of Francis, a 35-year-old writer, as she begins a different path and separates from her husband after her husband admits he has an affair. This girl started a new journey in Tuscany in order to escape from reality and restore herself, where she decided to buy a villa in Tuscany countryside and start a new life. As time goes on in that wonderful place, Francis finds once again the joy of life with a new love.
Under the Tuscan Sun pretends to be juicy, but it doesn't allow any dribbles. It purports to make love all over us, but not without laying down lots of paper towels first.
Offers Americans the ultimate fantasy vacation. It's a beautiful, sunny, fresh air trip to Europe without the jet lag, language problems, money problems, or any other trivialities.
"Under the Tuscan Sun" is an amiable film that, in the tradition of escapist fiction, provides a nice, scenic getaway with just enough drama to keep the story from getting stagnant.
a romantic abomination wherein the main character's best friend is a pregnant Asian lesbian who comes to Italy to visit and ends up ruining the story's only semi-romantic aspect, and extends its painful length for an extra half-hour in the process.
Has about as much in common with Frances Mayes as it does with Willie Mays, but it does have the marvelous Diane Lane.
Washington Post
September 26, 2003
It is a glorious refreshment to spend time with characters who aren't twenty-something eye bait, someone's virtuous, whiny wife or other reductive archetypes.
Common Sense Media
December 29, 2010
Not much for teens in this book adaptation.
Slate
September 29, 2003
The movie is sweet but deeply suspect: It's like Lost Horizon re-imagined by a realtor.
