Film Review: UNDER THE STARS (2025): Michelle Danner’s Latest Offers Viewers an Enjoyable and Romantic Glimpse of the Road to Finding True Love
Under the Stars Review
Under the Stars (2025) Film Review, a movie directed by Michelle Danner, written by Victoria Vinuesa and starring Alex Pettyfer, Eva De Dominici, Andy Garcia, Toni Collette, Rob Estes, Jessica Serfaty, Vincent Riotta, Tim Fellingham, Michelle Danner, Chiara Iezzi, Marco Marzocca, Robert Feldmaier, Erica Papasergi, Edward Wray and Alessandra Rosa.
Director Michelle Danner delights with the sweet new romance, Under the Stars, a movie about finding one’s destiny and escaping one’s troubles when the going gets tough. It features Alex Pettyfer as a struggling writer named Ian who has a girlfriend (Jessica Serfaty) who seems a bit self-centered and uncaring despite her best efforts to make their relationship work. When Ian spots her with someone else, he decides to follow the advice of his Aunt Audrey (Toni Collette) and go elsewhere for the inspiration that he needs to finish writing his novel. What follows is a story of destiny and romance as the action moves to Italy for a beautiful travelogue with a story line that will move the viewer if one can open up to the themes the movie presents.
In Puglia, Italy, Ian meets the girl of his dreams although he has no idea that she is going to potentially be his true love at the outset. Her name is Arianna (Eva De Dominici). She is in charge of the place Ian will stay, La Masseria, alongside her kind-hearted dad, Giacomo (Andy Garcia). A bond forms between Arianna and Ian in a way that Danner develops in a slow-moving, but enjoyable, way that develops both the characters effectively. When Aunt Audrey arrives, Giacomo finds a companion who may just be the perfect match for him.
Of course, Arianna writes Ian off at first and thinks he’s annoying initially, but the more the pair get to know one another, the more they realize that there’s something between them that cannot be denied. This film portrays the joys of finding one’s artistry through interaction with others and by taking in the beautiful scenery of a place that differs from one’s ordinary surroundings.
Alex Pettyfer has that insecurity down pat in his author character. You know, the insecurity that an artist feels when bringing to life a new work. I was particularly impressed with the portrayal of his bond with the first girlfriend played by Serfaty who is snobby, but at the same time, the movie never presents her as a totally unsuitable companion for Ian. Instead, Ian searches his heart to find what he really desires and deserves in his life and Arianna seems to have more complexity and passion within herself that opens up Ian to be his best self.
There is beauty in the scenes between Garcia and Collette. Individually, they deliver touching performances as determined people full of integrity. Together, however, they create cinematic magic as they form a bond themselves that the movie parallels to the love being discovered by Ian and Arianna.
Garcia is always enjoyable, but he brings sophistication to his role here which makes his character stand-out even though it’s not focused on as much as Ian’s part in the movie. There is also a believable connection between the aunt and Ian thanks to Collette’s finely tuned performance. Collette always possesses a sharp energy in the roles she plays, and this time is no exception. Garcia and Collette’s scenes together go back and forth between sweet and deep and there’s a lot of enjoyable things about watching this pair of veteran performers light up the screen through priceless interactions.
At first, De Dominici didn’t win me over. Arianna felt like she could be a bad match for Ian, but then something magical happens as layers of her character are slowly revealed. Danner is a pro at creating believable characterizations and, once the film hits the midpoint, it’s purely delightful to engage in the story line. Watching these characters find a certain level of happiness that may come with challenges makes for an easy and relatable watch. These characters are smart enough to know what they want and to discover, within themselves, the key to personal bliss.
There’s plenty of inspiration Danner had for this film. One doesn’t even have to delve too deep into the material to see how the Before series inspired her. Those movies were about taking a chance on love which is exactly what the characters do in this film. Under the Tuscan Sun is probably another inspiration and the movie doesn’t hide its ambitions and influences but rather pays homage to the movies before it that set the stage for this new little find.
Andy Garcia was recently seen in the latest Book Club movie. He’s on familiar turf here, to be sure, but makes the role something different and special due to the creative energy he brings to this part. Garcia is a natural born ladies’ man, and this role utilizes that talent to the fullest.
At the heart of Under the Stars is a touching story about finding inspiration in life through love. There’s a cast of supporting players that also includes the always reliable Rob Estes, a Michelle Danner regular, and the smaller roles add to the delight that the movie ultimately becomes.
Under the Stars has a lot of heart. It may feel a bit too whimsical at certain times for its own good, but there’s a definite level of precision that is brought to the material and if we are, indeed, being manipulated into loving these characters, it’s because the actors are just that good. If you want to see a movie about growing through new beginnings, see this one. It’s a romantic’s movie, for sure, but you don’t have to be looking to watch a love story to appreciate its message of finding happiness at any age. It’s a really adorable movie.
Rating: 7.5/10
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