MovieChat Forums > Under the Tuscan Sun (2003) Discussion > Why do people put this film down for bei...

Why do people put this film down for being 'unrealistic'?

posted 7 years ago by marvelass
3 replies | jump to latest

For example, "She couldn't easily relocate to Italy" or "The Italian Stallion/Latin Lover is such a cliche" or "She wouldn't be able learn to cook extravagant Italian meals so quickly", etc.

You realize this is a lot of women's fantasy? Many men are into superhero movies/war epics/mafia flicks, but how realistic are those? Yet no one gives them crap for liking those things.

It's like when men belittle women for liking romance novels and erotica, yet they feel free to indulge in porn and fantasy football, without irony.

Movies like Under the Tuscan Sun (and other so-called chick flicks) are escapist fantasies for many women, much like CGI extravaganzas/sports video games are for men.

I'm a guy, but I've noticed many men are hypocritical about what they like and what they mock women for liking. For example, my brother made fun of his girlfriend for being obsessed with Sex and the City yet he himself never missed an episode of Entourage and continues to watch the DVDs on occasion (often while stoned), but that's just the male version of SATC.

In short, we all have our fantasies. For those of us who enjoy watching The Travel Channel or The Food Network or HGTV, this is our porn. Live and let live.

.

[–] TheManInOil 7 years ago

I was wondering while watching it if it was meant to be aspirational - like do women really dream of these sorts of situations. Evidently they do. I think you're right - there's no point holding it against them. It's a presentation of wishful thinking.

And as the lady says in the movie, just because I haven't found it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. Who knows? Maybe things like this do happen. Albeit to rich, successful, talented, beautiful women.

[–] BiffGG (662) 7 years ago

When you put it like that it is hard to argue. But............. It tries to skirt reality a lot closer than a super hero or sci-fi effort hence the criticism. At the same time I would take the same approach to criticizing Sons of Anarchy for example. Outlaw motorcycle clubs are a real world quantity and the rules on conduct in that world is fairly universal and yet there are definite absurdities to SOA. I can't hate a woman for watching UTTS to escape reality. I just can't cut somebody down for pointing out the absurdities. By the way a significant number of preferred "Italian dishes" came out of five star Manhattan or LA restaurants and back when they first came out would have been difficult to find in Italy at least to the same quality and formula but that is a nitpick. So I think the reputation in general of Italy being a land of fine food is somewhat overblown. Lastly, I guess if we can save one moron male from becoming an outlaw biker or some naive woman from thinking she can live a gentile life in Italy then it is well worth pointing out the absurdity.

[–] Otter (24464) 5 years ago

Oh, the movie is feel-good fluff... but it's good feel-good fluff!

And no, it's not strictly realistic, I mean we never see any of the bureaucracy involved in setting up residency in a new country. But that's not the point of the movie, the point of the movie is the fantasy of just dropping every thing and starting a new and better life. Most people have such fantasies, and I have to say I've always enjoyed the way this one plays out, with enough realism to make the fantasy seem... believable for two hours.