The Idea of You

It's hard to believe Anne Hathaway is the same age as Bette Davis as Margo Channing in "All About Eve". However, Hathaway truly owns 40 in this 2024 romcom as she plays Solene, a successful Silver Lake art gallery owner still smarting from a divorce three years prior. While taking her teenaged daughter to Coachella, she meets Hayes Campbell, the 24-year-old lead singer of globally popular boy band August Moon. Sparks fly immediately, and homemade sandwiches lead to an extended rendezvous on a world tour. While Nicholas Galitzine fulfills the limited contours of his role as a smitten pop star, it is really Hathaway that delivers the goods giving an accomplished performance that finally adds maturity to her natural effervescence. Directed by Michael Showalter (whose last film was 2022's underrated "Spoiler Alert"), the movie definitely swerves with predictable plot turns, but at least thanks to the observant script by Showalter and the wondrous Jennifer Westfeldt, it moves with a certain aplomb that makes it watchable. Enough with the Hathahate.

I was skeptical at first and thought I would like this movie because it is fanfiction, but I was proven wrong. It suprised me in a good way.

Anne was amazing in portrayal of Solène the role really suits her. Nicholas did a satisfactory job with singing I wish songs where more catchy so that they can be popular and after movie.

There is such great chemistry between Anne and Nicholas which is so important for this kind of movie. I really enjoyed watching their scenes.

Also I really like how they showed the difference in people's reactions when they saw her as a woman dating a younger man versus her ex-husband dating a younger woman.

Take the 2023 Jennifer Lopez film Marry Me, mix it with the 1999 Julia Roberts film Notting Hill, and you get this movie basically.

Good for what it is. But, why do people have to go and make things so complicated, in the words of Avril Lavigne?

This movie was pleasant, but also frustrating because the female character was too hung up on her age and what other people thought. Meanwhile, she had a literal Prince charming they're waiting for her, time and time again. All that precious time wasted, worrying over nothing.

If anything, this movie demonstrates why people shouldn't let anything get in the way of true love, how silly it is to do so.

The film resonated personally with me as it delved into the complexities of age-related relationships, striking a chord with how societal judgments can shape our experiences and influence our loved ones. Anne Hathaway's performance, as always, was captivating, effortlessly embodying the nuances of her character. Her portrayal added depth to the narrative, earning a solid 7 out of 10 for her remarkable portrayal and the overall execution of the storyline. The cinematography beautifully captured the essence of the narrative, enhancing the viewing experience. The production design recreated the world of the characters, immersing the audience in their reality. Moreover, the emotional impact was profound, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. Overall, Hathaway's adept performance, coupled with the engaging plot, stunning visuals, and emotional resonance, resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable cinematic experience, deserving of its commendable rating.

I've previously read the book, so I anticipated that the movie might not fully live up to my expectations, and unfortunately, I was correct. However, I appreciated how the overall plot was adapted for a faster pace, and both Anne Hathaway and Nicolas Galitzine delivered strong performances. My only gripe is that Ella Rubin seemed too old to convincingly portray Anne Hathaway's teenage daughter; in certain scenes, they resembled siblings rather than mother and daughter, which detracted from the immersion. Nevertheless, the movie excels, particularly in its departure from the book's ending, providing readers with a satisfying closure.