Love in the Villa is perfect for a lazy day where you can have a glass of wine or coffee and be whisked away. Watch this movie, and it makes you want to travel, even if the story is a little predictable. Sometimes you need something very cheesy but excellent on the eye.
Julie Hutton (Kat Graham) has planned to travel to Verona for many years. In fact, she has planned it down to the last detail—her love for the Shakespearean classic Romeo and Juliet, the influence of her passion for the Italian city.
After having a disastrous dinner with her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend, Brandon (Raymond Ablack), Julie decides to travel to Verona by herself and fulfill her dream.
Checking into an Airbnb, Julie quickly discovers a mistake with her booking, as it has been double booked. Now she has to share her dream vacation with Charlie Fletcher (Tom Hopper), and this is a disaster.
Written and Directed by Mark Steven Johnson, Love in the Villa, is a perfect rom-com. It is set in Italy, filled with delicious food and wine. There is tension between Julie and Charlie, who are forced to stay together. It is all just a bit of fun—a perfect watch for a lazy afternoon.
Love in the Villa has a bucket full of romantic tropes, which helps with the easygoing movie’s overall enjoyment. Forced proximity, Second change love, Impossible love, Enemies to lovers, and cute meet-cute. There are so many cliched moments in this film that it is tough not to enjoy them if you are a lover of cute romantic comedies.
Kat Graham, as Julie, has presented her character in a very endearing way. In the beginning, you think this character is a little full of herself and headstrong with her encounter with Charlie. But as the story develops, you realize that she is just incredibly passionate about Romeo and Juliet and wants to experience everything possible while visiting Verona. Excellent character development, and Graham is great in this role.
Tom Hopper as Charle Fletcher is an ideal choice for someone who is a little standoffish, attractive, and bombastic. He is very arrogant in his approach when confronted that he might have to share his Airbnb with an unwanted guest. The moment you see him on screen, there is apparent chemistry between the two, which is almost electric. But then again, why wouldn’t Julie be attracted to Charlie? She has just walked in on him in his underwear, and he “accidentally” spills wine all over himself.
Love in the Villa is a pleasant surprise of a film. You can watch it without worrying if there will be grotesque violence or horror or if this story will become incredibly dark or psychological. This film is perfect if you need a pick-me-up or something you can put on in the background and dream about overseas travel.
Love in the Villa is currently available on Netflix.
