SummaryWhile chaperoning her teenage daughter's trip to Coachella, Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mother, begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet.
SummaryWhile chaperoning her teenage daughter's trip to Coachella, Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mother, begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet.
Perhaps I loved this film because it reminded me of a time when life was an adventure. I suspect the audience for this film is in their forties or fifties, still loves to dance, travel, have the occasional midnight liaison with that cute younger guy.. imagine being a grown up, with an almost grown child, and getting that call at midnight. And why not? I loved this movie.
Directed by Michael Showalter without too much sentimentality or cheese, the guilty-pleasure rom-com (emphasis on rom) is elevated by Hathaway’s layered performance as a swept-off-her-feet California mother that goes well beyond the confines of its supermarket pulp storyline.
More than once, I was struck by how authentically 40 Solène seemed to me — a woman capable of making her own decisions, even ones she thinks might be ill-advised — and how weirdly rare it is to see that kind of character in a movie.
With Hathaway at its centre, The Idea of You is on far surer footing, in small moments almost threatening to be something far greater but settling into being perfectly acceptable instead, a plane movie par excellence.
IN A NUTSHELL:
This May/December movie is based on the popular 2017 love story novel by Robinne Lee.
The film was directed by Michael Showalter who also co-wrote it with Jennifer Westfeldt. Already, it's been nominated for the Audience Award by the SXSW Film Festival.
THINGS I LIKED:
I've been a big fan of Academy Award winner Anne Hathaway forever. It's crazy to believe she is now playing the mother of a teenager when she, herself, still looks so young and beautiful. She plays a 40-year-old single mom. In real life, she's just barely 41. It would have been fun to hear her sing.
The first time I ever saw Nicholas Galitzine in anything was in the musical Cinderella that Amazon Prime produced. He's charming with a great voice, and I really liked him in this as the 24-year-old pop star. In real life, he's 29 years old.
Other cast members who did a fine job include Ella Rubin, Reid Scott, Annie Mumulo, and even Graham Norton who plays himself in a short cameo.
We get to see some fun musical performances.
It's fun to see a lot of art and hear an art expert talk about what she sees and feels when looking at various pieces.
The title is intriguing and comes from a line that Anne Hathaway's character says.
The movie poster is romantic.
The film does a good job making us feel the pain of different kinds of relationships.
THINGS I DIDN'T LIKE:
As expected, the film veers from the book in several ways. Two notable differences are that the movie has more of a rom-com vibe and is more sexually charged than the book.
As much as I love Anne Hathaway, I was surprised she would choose this role. She is much better than what the script allows her to be. Still, she looks gorgeous and I'm always happy to see her in anything.
TIPS FOR PARENTS:
Without seeing a ton of flesh, there are some highly charged intimate moments.
We see an unmarried couple go at it a few times with sound effects.
We see a man and woman in their underwear.
Lots of alcohol and cigarettes
Lots of kissing.
The Idea Of You
Dubbed The Harry Styles fanfiction movie, we get a romantic movie about a 40-year-old single mother who finds herself in a passionate relationship with the young lead singer of a boy band. What could possibly go wrong?
These days, many romantic comedies fail to captivate audiences, often due to uninspired plots or mediocre acting. However, "The Idea Of You" doesn't transport viewers back to the golden era of romcoms, yet it distinguishes itself from the generic ones flooding the market **** get a story that's solid and engaging even though there are storylines that are left unexplored such as the tension among band members upon the relationship's revelation and a more gradual development of the romance. The ending may not please everyone. I found the darker false ending, suggesting the relationship as a catalyst for Solene's break from her routine life, more compelling than the actual conclusion. Ending on this note would have been more impactful because we get that the relationship has made Solene primed for more romance with other people. Realistically, this would have been a tough relationship to carry on.
In the final act, Solene's daughter, Izzy, gives her support to her mother but when the full weight of that decision crashes on her she withdraws her support. This element infuriated me because I loved how understanding and mature she was, but upon reflection, that decision the plot takes is one of the best. It portrays the complexity of doing what's right. It also shows the fickleness of our minds and the challenge of sticking to our decisions when it's difficult, and also the necessity of letting go.
Anne Hathaway is the linchpin that makes The Idea Of You work. She brings as much dedication to this role as she would a grander performance, and it shows. The chemistry she shares with Nicholas Galitzine is also undeniable, brimming with sensuality and ease. Nicholas Galitzine is slowly building a reputable repertoire as an actor.
Looking for a good love story? How about the allure of boy bands and their electrifying performances? Add in stunning leads with undeniable chemistry and an emotionally vulnerable male protagonist, and "The Idea Of You" becomes the ideal choice.
6.5/10
The plot for this film is as generic as the title, so it's up to the production to make it worth watching. Anne Hathaway plays a single mom who runs a successful gallery and just turned 40. She "meets cute" the 24-year-old lead singer of a popular boy band (Nicholas Galitzine) and the romance begins. Of course, the conflict between their ages forms the core of the conflict. Luckily, Galitzine is continually charming and Hathaway is delightful. Their chemistry clicks from the start and their relationship creates a compelling romcom. This movie is strictly by-the-numbers with average dialogue, but the performances boost it to a sweet little charmer.
Feels and looks like a mature Nickelodeon film. Very didactic. And although the main leads are not bad, the lack of chemistry is evident. Coachella scenes are cringe af. This should've been 90 minutes.
Very foreseeable and boringin my opinion. I didnt really like the songs either. I love both Anne and Nick but this movie was just not it. It felt like a 14 year old wrote the script