| Director | Michael Showalter |
| Writers | Michael Showalter, Jennifer Westfeldt |
| Based On | The Idea of You by Robinne Lee |
| Cast | Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Perry Mattfeld, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Meg Millidge, Raymond Cham Jr., Jaiden Anthony, Viktor White, Dakota Adan |
| Runtime | 115 minutes |
| Genre | Romantic, Comedy |
– No Spoilers –
Solène’s world turns upside down when she takes her teenage daughter to Coachella and falls in love with the dashing lead singer of Rebel Moon, the boyband that she is obsessed with. Of course, dating someone much younger comes with its own set of challenges.
The Idea of You is your usual affair of cutesy romance with some challenges and an eventual (somewhat) happy ending but there’s a charm in the movie that is both infectious and hard to ignore. There are not too many contemporary movies that showcase an older woman dating a younger man and Hathaway and Galitzine’s latest flick falls right into the sweet spot that is not sleazy but passionate and romantic. Now, that is a feat in itself.
Feel-good and bubbly, this movie is an easy-breezy, heart-fluttering watch. Nothing too complicated or shocking, there’s an easiness to the storyline and the performances that make you take notice and smile from time to time. The storyline, showcasing the passion of attraction between two seemingly different but similar people of vastly different age groups, is cute and relatable and doesn’t make Solène’s age an excuse to take advantage of Galitzine’s Hayes Campbell. Campbell is spellbound with Solène at first glance and we get it – so are we.
Hathaway makes Solène a sweet and modern character who, thankfully, isn’t a femme fatale. Rather, her genuineness is her selling point and makes her so easy to follow in the story. Although the age gap might be a red flag, the characters and storytelling are such that you don’t feel icky about them and their relationship. Both Solène and Hayes have a genuine connection that is apparent in every scene – their chemistry is electric and they look great together. Thus, you want them to succeed in the end.
The conflict in their relationship, however, is cliched and expected, something that we have seen time and time again in many different movies that tackle a similar story. Although I liked Solène’s relationship with her daughter Izzy is an open and sweet one, it’s not worth remembering much. Even then, I think I related to her woes in the end and Hathaway’s reactions are so genuine that it is difficult not to feel for her when she goes through the ups and downs of an age-gap relationship, that too with a man who is a teenage heartthrob!
What really works for this movie, and what will keep you hooked to the story till the end as well, is Hayes and Solène’s scorching chemistry. It’s nothing short of mesmerising watching the two actors share their first kiss and several other moments of intimacy. Again, it’s not sleazy or anything but there’s a passion there that will make you fan yourself. The main pillars of this movie are the two protagonists and Hathaway and Galitzine are eye-catching in every frame. Not only do they make for a visually appealing couple, but the way their eyes talk when they look at one another is what sets this movie truly apart.
The Idea of You Review: Final Thoughts
Fluffy, passionate and easy-going, The Idea of You is a must-watch for everyone who needs something sweet and romantic to watch. Although the storyline is predictable, it’s the characters who make this a truly memorable watch in every way possible. The movie reminds us that there might not (always) be something sinister behind an older woman falling in love with a younger man and sometimes it’s okay for adults to make their choices – and that’s the notion that sets its apart from other films of the genre. We love to see that.
The Idea of You is coming to Amazon Prime Video on May 02, 2024.
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