The Idea of You (2024) Review!!

Synopsis – Solène, a 40-year-old single mom, begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet.

My Take – Ever since she broke through with The Princess Diaries (2001) and doubled down on fame with The Devil Wears Prada (2006), Anne Hathaway has proved herself to be an actress who can effortlessly enhance a viewing experience with her radiant smile and commanding presence, irrespective of the quality of the film, especially in those irredeemable ones (The Witches, The Last Thing He Wanted, The Hustle, Serenity to name a few).

Her latest sees her once again in rom com territory with the overly familiar ‘celebrity falling for a non-famous person’ trope, with the big twist being the age gap and a role reversal. While Hathaway plays a 40 year old single mom, her love interest, played by Nicholas Galitzine, is a 24 year old pop star. Add to that the theme of a globe-trotting mom having a sexual awakening, the Prime Video release has been garnering significant buzz ever since the first trailer dropped.

Based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee, who was apparently inspired by Harry Styles’ real-life dating history, the film is all a bit predictable and expected, however, in the hands of director Michael Showalter (The Big Sick), who co-wrote the adaption with Jennifer Westfeldt (Kissing Jessica Stein), the resulting film is something watchable that manages to be steamy while also tugging your heart.

Most importantly, it does something we rarely see on screen: the idea of a woman in her 40s being found intriguing, sexy, and desirable, and the object of pursuit by a younger, attractive man.

Though fans of the book maybe left underwhelmed as it synthesizes some its ideas, yet Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine do their best to prevent the escapist plot from sinking completely, even when the film threatens to become something far greater, but instead choosing to become something perfectly acceptable.

The story follows Solène (Anne Hathaway), a recently turned 40 year old single mother, who is still reeling from the discovery that her sleazy husband Dan (Reid Scott) was having an affair. Now divorced, Solène has thrown everything she has into raising their teenage daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin) and running her boutique art gallery in Los Angeles.

On the surface, at least, she seems successful and happy. Deep down, however, Solène knows that there’s something missing from her life. And when her ex breaks yet another commitment, Solène becomes the one to take Izzy and her friends to the Coachella Music Festival.

Reluctantly chaperoning them to a meet-and-greet with their favorite boy band, August Moon. While looking for a bathroom, she accidentally ends up in the trailer of the lead singer of the band, Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) and the two instantly connect and feel attraction for each other.

Though Solène doesn’t think much of this attraction that is until Hayes lands at her art gallery wanting to spend more time with her. Although she is reluctant at first, soon enough Solène gives in to her feelings for him, and they engage in a relationship while he tours Europe with his band. Of course, dating a public figure isn’t an easy task, especially if he is 16 years younger, as Solène finds out quite harshly.

What follows unfold predictably, as conflicts resolve before resurfacing, and the May December (2023) dynamic rears its head once more. Though the on-and-off romance is eye-rollingly familiar, it’s a far sleeker and far more satisfying package than the former, illuminated by the genuine film star power of Anne Hathaway and made with a higher level of craft, from the sturdy studio-level direction of Michael Showalter to a mostly smooth-going script.

The film also the double standards regarding age in relationships, where men dating younger women are often accepted, while women dating younger men face scrutiny and derogatory labels like “cougar”, perpetuated even by the media. Solène is throughout made hyper-aware of how she’s viewed by those around him and, eventually, the greater public.

Several characters, most notably Soléne’s jealous ex-husband, allude to the striking 16-year age gap between her and Hayes, the film never plays this as even the slightest bit creepy. The age gap has been somewhat smoothed from the book with Hayes now being 24 rather than 20 but it’s still a central cause of concern and conflict in the story. And while the film is not as kinky as the book supposedly is, it pays contains enough mildly spicy moments to get pulses racing.

It helps that Anne Hathaway gives a particularly lovely and vulnerable performance. Exuding pure film star charisma, Hathaway can play versions of these brittle but brave women in her sleep. But this is a deceptively fine turn, one whose surprising emotional heft practically carries the film through patches that might have otherwise felt a tad too familiar. At 41, she hardly looks older than her 29-year-old co-star.

Her chemistry with Nicholas Galitzine is outstanding, and he also impresses particularly in the film’s emotionally charged moments, such as the couple’s first argument during their holiday when Hayes questions Soléne about her feelings of shame. In supporting roles, Annie Mumolo, Ella Rubin, Reid Scott, and Perry Mattfeld are effective. On the whole, ‘The Idea of You’ is a guilty pleasure rom com relying completely on Anne Hathaway‘s pure film star charisma.