‘From Scratch’ on Netflix Review: Zoe Saldana’s Italian Romance Will Have You Reaching for the Wine and Tissues

There is more cheese in Netflix‘s From Scratch than in all of Italy’s heavily regulated caverns of Parmigiano Reggiano wheels itself. The shamelessly swoon-y limited series features such cornerstones of the romance genre as a hot Italian chef, that same man waiting in the rain, golden lit Florentine skylines, a wedding in a literal villa, passionate sex, and, sadly, someone dying of cancer. Through it all, From Scratch remains defiantly sincere. Love is what conquers all, the show says: romantic love, familial love, and communal love. From Scratch‘s combination of schlock and so-so scripting should be enough to put off Netflix’s most cynical subscribers. And yet, I ate up this by-the-numbers trifle with gusto.

From Scratch isn’t a good show, but it is a great damn binge. It’s the kind of show that will have you crying into your sweatshirt sleeve and opening a second bottle of wine late on a Friday night. You’ll be googling the cost of flights to Italy and texting your girlfriends about how love might still be real. From Scratch is a perfect slice of escapism for the wine moms and independent women of the world. It’s not worthy of awards, but it is worth recommending to my fellow die-hard romantics as a blithe bit of distraction from everyday stress and sorrows.

Inspired by Tembi Locke’s memoir of the same name, From Scratch follows Amahle “Amy” Wheeler (Zoe Saldana), a bright young woman whose life changes forever when she spends a summer between law school semesters studying art in Italy. While in Florence, Amy is not only seduced by the idea of being a full-time artist, but she’s also wooed by a young Sicilian chef named Lino (Eugenio Mastrandrea). However, their story is far more than just a Florentine fantasy. As the series goes on, we watch as they struggle to reconcile their different cultures, juggle family drama, and ultimately, Lino’s tragic cancer diagnosis.

My biggest issue with From Scratch was how it was quickly evident that it would have worked far better as a film. From Scratch stretches out Amy and Lino’s love story to include domestic squabbles over her sister’s Diet Dr. Pepper stash, Amy’s inconsequential relationships with artists at a gallery she works at, and the stress of finding out where someone can watch Italian football in Los Angeles. The drama is feather light in places and absolutely crushing in others. It is a story that lacks the harmony that Lino himself is constantly harping upon in his cooking.

From Scratch‘s biggest strength, though, is its dreamy Italian love story. As Amy, Zoe Saldana is the perfect avatar for feminine fantasy. Amy is smart, beautiful, creative, and passionate. And everyone in her life supports her (to an almost unrealistic degree). Most importantly, she catches the eye of Lino, an impossibly kind and devastatingly hot Italian chef. When Lino insists on walking Amy home, their moonlit stroll and flirtatious banter evokes the magic of Linkletter’s Before Sunrise. When Lino gifts Amy a secondhand bicycle, he is the picture of chivalric class. When he insists on cooking her and her friends a gourmet feast, it’s over. Lino is the hottest male character to ever exist.

Of course, Amy and Lino’s love story is so perfect that it cannot last. Just as the pieces are falling into place for them in America, Lino discovers that he has a rare form of cancer called leiomyosarcoma. This forces Amy into the role of caregiver. She has to advocate for her husband and contend with the threat of life without him. (I just want to reiterate that Amy has the luxury of an incredibly supportive family who drops everything to be there for her and Lino. Perhaps that is the greatest fantasy of all in this show! A family that goes above and beyond in times of tumult!)

Ultimately, From Scratch is a meh show that is made special thanks to its performers. Zoe Saldana and Danielle Deadwyler (who gets the unenviable task of playing Amy’s ride or die sister Zora) elevate the material beyond being Hallmark Channel fluff. As Lino, Eugenio Mastrandrea is a disarmingly charming new dream boat. However, as aforementioned, From Scratch is more cheese than anything else. It’s corny, sweet, and obnoxiously wholesome.

From Scratch is that show that you are totally going to watch, but you’ll never bring it up to your cool friends. A moscato-drunk aunt will mention it during Thanksgiving and you’ll have to suppress your excitement as you mention how hot Lino was. From Scratch is a dreamy, steamy, tearjerker that is the epitome of escapism. Enjoy eating it up.

From Scratch premieres on Netflix on Friday, October 21.