The Idea of You (2024) is directed by Michael Showalter and stars Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Reid Scott, Annie Mumolo, Perry Mattfeld, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Meg Millidge, Cheech Manohar, and Raymond Cham Jr. Based on Robinne Lee’s novel of the same name, the film follows Solene (Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who finds herself in a passionate romance with Hayes Campbell (Galitzine), the 24-year-old lead singer of her daughter’s favorite childhood boyband. As their relationship develops, Solene is forced to deal with the side effects of putting herself and her family so squarely in the public eye.

Like most romances that focus on a relationship between two characters, The Idea of You lives and dies with the performances of its two leads. Solene is a complicated protagonist who is occasionally unlikable in the film’s first half, but this is only in service of her arc – by the end of the movie, she’s a changed person and it feels earned. It’s clear that Hathaway is passionate about this character, which shows in her performance. It feels akin to Demi Moore’s performance in The Substance (2024) in the sense that Hathaway seems to have a personal connection to her character’s struggles. Nicholas Galitzine gives an equally strong performance as the boyband’s lead singer who somewhat resents his position. He’s perfectly able to convey the natural inexperience that comes with being 24 years old but also the uncommon maturity he would need to have to date someone so much older than himself. It’s a romantic situation that feels uncommon, but the great script allows the viewer to believe every bit of it. 

The plot structure is typical for a romance film – they fall in love, something bad happens, and then they reconnect. That being said, this feels like an uncommonly well-executed version of the typical romance plot. It features a strong “meet-cute” moment and the romantic dialogue is consistently authentic, but the most impressive aspect is the pacing. The movie spends the perfect amount of time building romantic tension – nothing feels too fast or drawn out. 

I think what makes the film unique within its genre is its explorations of fame and how that can complicate even the most basic aspects of day-to-day life. This includes how people often attempt to insert themselves into relationships that they should never have been a part of and only succeed in hurting things. This is amplified in the context of celebrities when it’s not just friends and family being nosey, it’s strangers from all over the world. 

The film features a breezy tone that is never quite too serious, but never quite funny either. Normally, this would be a criticism, but in the context of the romance genre, it’s the perfect tone. Romance is serious, but not so serious that the stakes need to be portrayed as akin to life and death like so many movies do. Romance is also fun/funny, but not so much so that the seriousness of the characters’ feelings are ignored.

As for my slight problems with experience, I was annoyed with the fact that the middle portion of the movie essentially just devolves into the two characters making out for extended periods. Yes, it helps to portray the passion of their romance, but it’s just boring to watch after it happens 3 scenes in a row. I’m also not sure I agree with the story’s idea that older women in relationships with younger men are looked upon more negatively than older men in relationships with younger women. I’ve never heard of a situation with a man who’s 20 years older than his girlfriend not being criticized. Maybe if I had the numbers in front of me, they’d prove me wrong, but in my personal experience, it cuts both ways. 

Overall, this is a light, low-maintenance romance that delivers exactly what fans of the genre will come to see. It also features two strong lead performances that provide a believable connection. If you don’t like the genre, nothing here will change your mind. Everyone else will be in for a satisfying yet slightly recognizable two hours. B