“The Idea of You” - Film Review
There is some irony in the naming of the Anne Hathaway-led flick, The Idea of You. The film, based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee, is centered on the star-crossed meeting between a woman and the frontman of the hottest boy band in the world. The irony of the title is that the movie, and likely the book, so desperately wants Harry Styles in the role of the boy band singer, but it can’t have him. Instead, it’s forced to make do with a caricature of Styles (the idea of him, if you will). It’s glaringly obvious that much of Hayes Campbell’s (Nicholas Galitzine) style, personality, and general vibe have been plucked out of Styles’ life. However, in attempting to reproduce him the film falls flat, and that’s before getting into the odd romance at its core.
courtesy of amazon/mgm
Solène (Anne Hathaway) is recently divorced and attempting to find her own identity outside of marriage. Her now ex-husband, Daniel (Reid Scott), cheated on Solène and quickly married his mistress (Perry Mattfeld). The two share custody of their teenage daughter, Izzy (Ella Rubin), who is preparing for a weekend at Coachella with her closest friends. Daniel purchased VIP tickets for Izzy to meet August Moon, the most popular boy band, but has to back out at the last minute. Not wanting her daughter to be disappointed, Solène takes Daniel’s place and has a chance encounter with Hayes Campbell. This meeting leads to a relationship between Solène and Hayes that is forced to weather the storm of Hayes’ immeasurable fame.
Those vaguely aware of Hathaway and Galitzine as actors likely picked up the age difference between them. In the film, the characters are 16 years apart, but in reality, there are 12 years between them. Age gaps are a delicate subject, and there are important conversations to be had about how imbalances of power can change the dynamics of a relationship. The Idea of You isn’t interested in those conversations, nor does it really fit most of the concerns people have with age gaps. Despite the fact that Solène is older than Hayes, there’s no real impact on their relationship other than the fact that strangers on the internet are judging them. Nor does Hayes use his fame to gain an upper hand of any kind.
courtesy of amazon/mgm
This dynamic, one where both people come together as consenting adults, is vastly different than if Solène had known Hayes since he was a teenager and was waiting for him to grow up. The problem lies in the lack of chemistry between Hathaway and Galitzine. On her own, Hathaway can sell anything. It boggles the mind that we ever turned on her as a society, because she’s such a warm delight to watch. Her smile lights up the screen, and it is so easy to get caught up in watching her. Galitzine, while charming in films like Bottoms, doesn’t have the charisma the role requires, and it’s not all his fault. He’s being asked to essentially be Harry Styles. Galitzine is missing the stage presence and voice that endear Styles to his fans. Had Hayes been an actor or less of a Styles copycat, maybe Galitzine would have been afforded more flexibility in his performance.
The Idea of You is not perfect, but it does scratch an itch that exists at the moment. With romance novels on the rise and series like Bridgerton on the Netflix Top Ten list, The Idea of You feels like the beginning of what is hopefully a resurgence of the mid-budget rom com. If anything, The Idea of You is a necessary reminder of Hathaway’s star power and her ability to exude glam in a friendly, accessible way. The events of The Idea of You may sound like they’ve been plucked from a One Direction fanfiction, but Hathaway does her best to keep the film’s feet on the ground.
Follow me on BlueSky, Instagram, Letterboxd, & YouTube. Check out Movies with My Dad, a new podcast recorded on the car ride home from the movies.