The rom-com is back, baby. Since Anyone But You hit theaters at the tail end of 2023, Hollywood seems to have realized, it’s okay to laugh and even better to love. Perhaps they are even realizing, that adults watch movies too. Prime Video jumps into the rom-com game this week with The Idea of You. Does the sweet and sultry rom-com carry a tune or will this one hit a sour note? Read on.
The Idea of You follows Soléne (Anne Hathaway). A single mother getting uncomfortably close to her 40th birthday. She’s far from thrilled when she has to step in for her ex-husband (Reid Scott) and take their daughter (Ella Rubin) to Coachella. Stuck in the desert, Soléne strikes up a surprisingly flirtatious chemistry with Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), a member of her daughter’s favorite boyband.
Soon, the two fall deep into a relationship leading to questions about life, love, and pop culture. She has a daughter… should she really be dating a man almost young enough to be her son? Will the tabloids approve? Annie Mumolo, Perry Mattfeld, and Jordan Aaron Hall co-star in the movie. Michael Showalter directs the film from a script he co-wrote with Jennifer Westfeldt.
As someone who has her fair share of fan fiction floating around the deepest parts of AO3 and Fan Fiction.net, The Idea of You struck an immediate chord with me. This movie is fluffy, fun, and an utterly enjoyable bit of the most candy-colored wish fulfillment.
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In this rom-com, the film’s entire success rests on the shoulders of Hathaway and Galitzine’s chemistry. Thankfully, the two performers hit an adorable home run. Galitzine is a master of the rom-com “look.” We all know the one, the wide-eyed puppy dog stare letting his partner feel like they are the only person in his world.
This of course is a complicated pairing. At one point, Soléne mentions that she is “almost” old enough to be Hayes’s mother. As such, a lot of weight rests on the narrative’s shoulders, especially when viewing this through 2024 eyes. With questions of power dynamics running amok, the film spends a lot of time carefully crafting just what Soléne and Hayes are going through. They both have trust issues. Each struggles with their current situation. It is so clear that these two need each other and it is incredibly sweet to watch them learn this.
It’s easy to get lost in the relationship’s sweetly sultry nature. As a woman who grew up with Anne Hathaway, the film taps into a passionate wish fulfillment. It’s easy to project oneself into this highly accessible character. This rom-com shows a glamorous, passionate and jet-setting world. Soléne very much deserves this.
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With that, your truly’s biggest issue with the movie is a tricky one to talk about… spoilers, after all. We all know the “third-act break-up” that is common in the rom-com. We do (unfortunately!) need an actual narrative to propel the script.
I, for one, was really surprised when I grew frustrated with the story in the third act. At some level, it felt like an issue with pacing. However, as I continued watching, my qualm felt more superficial. I felt like there was too much reality in this romance.
The movie’s first three quarters are fully and completely based in a place of projection and wish-fulfillment. Hayes and Soléne are gorgeous. There’s no grounding in reality as they wear beautiful clothes and travel the world while basking in the glow of their love for each other. As reality hits… I just wanted my candy-coated romance back.
In the grand scheme of things, this is a positive when thinking about the movie. I was invested in this couple and the sweet adorable chemistry that Hathaway and Galitzine build together. It’s easy to not only get invested but also to enjoy this love story.
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When all is said and done, The Idea of You continues a much-welcomed streak in Hollywood. The rom-com seems to be back, kids. This sugary rom-com is about wish fulfillment and a love that so many dream about. This is “movie love” and everything that entails. It is glamorous, passionate and candy-coated. The Idea of You is dreamy, enjoyable and the perfect little treat if you’re looking for a must-see rom-com.
The Idea of You is now playing on Prime Video.
Check out our other movie reviews, here.
- Roger Corman: More Than ‘The King of the B’s’ - May 15, 2024
- Movie Review: THE IDEA OF YOU - May 7, 2024
- Movie Review: THE FALL GUY - May 5, 2024
