A Candid and Honest Romance: Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine Shine in ‘The Idea of You’ Review

Amid all the thrillers, biopics, and dramas that hit the big screen and streaming platforms every week, sometimes you just crave a good ol’ feel-good love story. You know, the kind where a boy meets a girl, they fall in love, face a little bump in the road due to some misunderstanding, and eventually find their way back to each other forever. Well, Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine’s movie, ‘The Idea Of You,’ checks off most of the boxes for a classic rom-com, but it goes a step further by addressing the desires of middle-aged women in a truly impactful way.

Directed by Michael Showalter, ‘The Idea Of You’ is light and enjoyable enough to let you bask in the joy of the main characters falling in love. But it also delves into the dark side of paparazzi culture, societal prejudices, and more, which sets it apart from your typical romantic comedy.

In the film, Anne Hathaway plays Solene, an art gallery owner based in LA who reluctantly takes her 16-year-old daughter and her friends to Coachella for a meet-and-greet with the popular band, August Moon. The twist is that Solene doesn’t realize that Hayes (played by Galitzine) is actually the lead singer of the band. Hayes becomes captivated by Solene, and she finds herself drawn to him as well. However, she hesitates at first because of the significant age gap (she’s 40 and he’s 24), and also because he’s the heartthrob of millions of teenagers.

So, Hayes is this emotionally complex guy, but he’s also really kind and gentle. He doesn’t let his celebrity status go to his head, which is pretty cool. He goes after Solene and manages to win her over with his charm. They start off with what seems like a summer romance, with Solene joining Hayes as his “Art Consultant” while his band tours Europe. But, you know how the paparazzi can be. Once they catch wind of the couple, they start following them around and snapping pictures of their lovey-dovey moments. And of course, the tabloids eat it up. Unfortunately, instead of targeting Hayes, they go after Solene. They call her a cougar and make nasty comments about her age and appearance. It’s really unfair, and it’s like society automatically takes the man’s side. One of Solene’s friends hits the nail on the head when she says, “People hate happy women.” People are so quick to judge Solene’s character and integrity, but she’s not gonna let it get her down. She puts her own happiness first, even though it’s tough. But things start to change when Solene’s daughter Izzy starts getting affected.

So, The Idea Of You is actually based on a book by Robinne Lee with the same name. It’s all about this awesome 40-year-old single mom named Solene who lives life on her own terms. Even though she’s bitter about her ex-husband cheating on her, she’s moved on and made her teenage daughter her bestie. She finds comfort in her work and doesn’t really care about society’s expectations. Love kind of sneaks up on her, and she starts falling for a younger guy. That’s when she realizes how hypocritical society can be. You know, most romantic comedies or love stories are all about making you feel good. But The Idea Of You goes a step further and makes you think. It helps that Hathaway and Galitzine have amazing onscreen chemistry, making their relationship feel real and relatable. The songs in the movie, composed by Siddhartha Khosla and performed by Galitzine, are really nice and add a fresh vibe to the story. Overall, The Idea Of You is a feel-good romance that’ll definitely put a smile on your face, even if it’s a bit predictable. Hathaway and Galitzine make a good-looking couple on screen, and the movie is like a modern-day fairy tale. It’s candid and honest, shedding light on the double standards that exist in our society without being too preachy. This film isn’t just for teenagers; it’s meant for their parents too. It’s all about finding love and giving it a second chance.