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As formulaic, routine, and utterly predictable as this genre of movies has become in its old age, it's movies like "Under the Tuscan Sun" that prove just how vital and fresh the old tactics can feel when put into capable hands. And when it comes to Diane Lane, better hands are simply a figment of the imagination. Lane plays Frances Mayes, a San Francisco author who has just discovered that her once-happy marriage is now ending. With very little hope for the future and the kindness of two very close friends, she embarks on a vacation to picture-perfect Tuscany as part of the Gay and Away travel group. Once there, she is enraptured by the simplistic beauty that surrounds her, so much so that she throws caution to the wind and purchases a dilapidated but ageless villa where she begins a new life away from her troubles back home. ***

The plot is pretty simple underneath all of this, especially once she meets a charming Roman (Raoul Bova), only to discover that romance isn't always a cure-all. We've seen all of this before, many times over, but rarely quite this good. Director Audrey Wells' adaptation of the Frances Mayes memoir is just ripe with warmth, local color, sweet-natured humor, and a life-affirming message at its core: "Unthinkably good things can happen, even late in the game." And who better to bring all of this to life than Diane Lane, who since "Unfaithful" has proven to the world her abilities as an actress. In the main role, Lane shines with the radiance of the sun itself, her charm and sensational candor the perfect compliment to the breathtaking Tuscan backdrops surrounding her. She makes "Under the Tuscan Sun" more than just a postcard, but also a movie worth seeing, and seeing again.

What a nice-looking little movie! "Under the Tuscan Sun" has lots of beautiful cinematography capturing the elegance of the Italian landscape, and it looks great on DVD. The 1.85:1 anamorphic transfer is exceptional, with resilient colors and natural tones, especially sky blues and greens. Fleshtones are accurate and warm, and blacks are solid. Contrast and shadow detail prove their worth, with only a few moments that exhibit some minor pixelization blemishes. And clarity is splendid, with crisp edges and very few enhancement halos, all complimented by a mint-looking source print that features almost no film grain at all, and no speckle or scratches. Very nice! ***

The Dolby Digital 5.1 audio track is also an unexpected delight, quite the opposite of the normal romantic comedy mixes you hear on DVD. This one makes room for lots of soundfield use, especially with the Christophe Beck score, which is aggressive in the surrounds and mildly prominent in the .1 when it needs to be. Atmospherics and effects are nicely done, especially during an early thunderstorm, which sounds just great. Dialogue sounds very clean and clear, and is perfectly centered. All-in-all, this is a very engaging mix.