Solo Mio Weaves Heartbreak, Healing and Love in Rome

Solo Mio

★ ★ ★ ½

Solo Mio stars Kevin James as Matt Taylor, a fourth grade art teacher who falls in love with a fellow teacher, Heather (Julie Ann Emery). As the film opens, we get a glimpse of their picturesque, late-in-life romance. They seem perfect for each other, destined for happily ever after. Matt gets his students to arrange an art project that assembles into a written marriage proposal. Heather says “yes,” and everything is set for a wedding in Rome.

Until Heather leaves Matt standing at the altar. No sign this was coming. She’s just not there. Despite the note and ring left in her dressing room, Matt does everything he can to find her, but to no avail. He tries to cancel the Italian honeymoon trip they’d paid for. The hotel manager suggests he enjoy Italy and continue with everything they’d booked since it’s non-refundable.

Kevin James as Matt Taylor
© 2026 Angel Studios

One activity is a tandem bike tour with other couples from the United States. They all notice the empty seat on Matt’s bike and they eventually become friends. Julian (Kim Coates) and his wife Meghan (Alyson Hannigan) are on their third honeymoon—to each other. Neil (Jonathan Roumie) just married his therapist Donna (Julee Cerda). None of these people should be giving Matt relationship advice, but that doesn’t stop them.

Matt meets a woman named Gia (Nicole Grimaudo) who owns a local coffee shop. They become fast friends and it’s clear there’s a romance brewing between them. To the film’s credit, it’s not always predictable what happens with them, and that’s part of the fun.

Kevin James as Matt and Nicole Grimaudo as Gia
© 2026 Angel Studios

The romantic comedy has been largely dormant in recent years. Solo Mio is a worthy attempt to jumpstart the genre. It’s fun, classy and full of heart.

James switches gears from his goofy comedy roles and commands our sympathy—if we were left at the altar, this is what that might look like. Here, he works through nearly every emotion within his character. It may not be all the stages of grief, but we believe him and we’re rooting for him.

Nicole Grimaudo as Gia
© 2026 Angel Studios

I dare anyone not to crack at least a smile or two at Grimaudo’s knockout performance as Gia. She’s endearing, slipping in a wisecrack or two that hits their mark with her Italian accent when you’re not looking. Gia has Matt’s attention and Grimaudo has ours. She owns the screen when the camera’s on her.

The one thing that drags the film’s momentum is the friends, Julian and Neil. Coates and Roumie seem to try too hard in the role. They’re supposed to be funny, but often aren’t. It’s the one flaw that keeps this film from being really great.

Motorcycling in Italy
© 2026 Angel Studios

This is still a lovely romantic tale worthy of more than one screening. It may not be quite on the level of When Harry Met Sally or My Big Fat Greek Wedding, but it’s darned close. I hope you never find yourself heartbroken in Rome. But if you do, maybe check out the local coffee shop. You never know who might be behind the counter.