Common Sense Media Review
By Jennifer Green
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Drinking, hooking up, rethinking life in Italy-set romcom.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
Videos and Photos
La Dolce Villa
What's the Story?
In LA DOLCE VILLA, Eric Field (Scott Foley), a former chef who runs an Ohio-based restaurant consulting firm, has just landed in Italy to try to bring home his 20-something daughter, Olivia (Maia Reficco). She's got her mind set on buying a one euro abandoned home in a town in rural Tuscany and staying there for good. The purchase is part of a government-backed scheme to repopulate rural towns with young people, in this case promoted by the Mayor of Montezara, Francesca (Violante Placido). Eric gets involved in helping Olivia renovate the home, initially planning to "flip" it for a tidy profit. But when the home reveals a luxurious kitchen built for a chef, and as Eric gets closer to Francesca, Italy starts looking like a possible long-term home for him too.
Is It Any Good?
Despite following a now-established Netflix formula, this film still makes a few discreet attempts to diverge in the way it develops its characters and their relationships. La Dolce Villa (a play on the title of the classic Italian film La Dolce Vita, which gets a silly tribute in one scene here) tries not to overly stereotype its happy locals or its interloping Americans. It gives main romantic interest Francesca a backstory to rival Eric's and Olivia's, and characters—including the Americans—actually speak Italian. That doesn't mean the film reaches any great, novel, or emotional heights. It doesn't; it sits quite comfortably in the growing niche of undemanding small-screen romances set in beautiful locales.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the European repopulation scheme, based on similar programs that actually exist, to cheaply sell houses for remodeling in rural areas, like in La Dolce Villa. What do you think of this idea, and where could you find more information?
In what ways does the film exploit stereotypes of Italians and Americans? In what ways does it try to go beyond these? Can you think of specific examples?
Characters repeat the mantra "Anything worth loving is worth fighting for." Do you feel this way? Can you recall specific moments from your own life where you've lived by this motto?
Movie Details
- On DVD or streaming : February 13, 2025
- Cast : Scott Foley , Maia Reficco , Violante Placido
- Director : Mark Waters
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Actor(s) , Latino Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : Netflix
- Genre : Romance
- Topics : Cooking , Friendship
- Run time : 99 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- Last updated : September 18, 2025
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