The Idea of You (2024)
Director: Michael Showalter
Screenwriters: Michael Showalter, Jennifer Westfeldt
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine
Before Amazon Prime released The Idea of You, its author Robinne Lee—whose 2017 novel inspired the film—pushed back against the notion that her book is merely thinly veiled fan fiction about a specific pop star. Despite her clarification, the movie adaptation leans into that perception, consistently drawing visual and narrative parallels between the film’s fictional heartthrob and the modern pop-star archetype: oversized cardigans, indie sensibilities, and a reality-show origin story. The soundtrack and songwriting, meanwhile, intentionally evoke the polished pop craftsmanship associated with the genre, which reinforces the pop-star associations for viewers.
The Idea of You centers on Solène Marchand, a forty-year-old Los Angeles gallery owner played by Anne Hathaway. Solène is navigating life after a marriage that ended painfully and approaching a milestone birthday with a desire for renewal. Her ex-husband Daniel (Reid Scott) is the primary parent to their seventeen-year-old daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin). When Daniel chooses work over spending time with Izzy and her friends at a music festival, Solène cancels her plans and accompanies their daughter. An awkward detour leads Solène into the trailer of Hayes Campbell, the charismatic lead singer of the boy band August Moon, played by Nicholas Galitzine. Despite a significant fifteen-year age gap, the two are immediately attracted to one another and begin a secret romance that quickly becomes the focus of social media scrutiny.
Director Michael Showalter and co-writer Jennifer Westfeldt assemble a polished romantic drama that follows familiar rom-com beats with a glossy aesthetic. The film is technically accomplished: it moves cleanly from setup to payoff, showcases fashionable costuming—Solène’s wardrobe is a standout element—and benefits from a sleek production design. Costume designer Jacqueline Demeterio dresses Hathaway in rich textures and deep hues that underline Solène’s cultivated confidence and visual distinction.
Anne Hathaway delivers a poised, magnetic performance, bringing dignity and warmth to a woman who is positioned as self-possessed and urbane rather than neurotic. Her chemistry with Nicholas Galitzine is a major asset; their moments together—flirtatious, intimate, and visually alluring—anchor the film’s emotional core. Galitzine conveys the charisma expected of a pop idol, but the script undercuts him by offering limited interior life. Hayes exists largely through gestures of devotion and longing looks, but the film provides too few details about his world beyond the band. As a result, he sometimes reads more like a fantasy construct than a fully realized partner.
Where The Idea of You falters is in its lack of depth and world-building. Rom-coms often succeed when their supporting environments feel lived-in: friends, family, and small recurring details that populate the characters’ lives and make their dilemmas resonate. This film, by contrast, keeps many characters at arm’s length. Bandmates, managers, and even Solène’s daughter and social circle rarely feel fully developed. Key relationships that could have created richer stakes—particularly Solène’s bond with Izzy—are sketched only superficially. The movie changes the daughter’s age from the book, which softens potential conflict and removes a layer of emotional complexity present in the source material.
The screenplay also shies away from sustained conflict. Plot points that should create meaningful tension—deception, betrayal, invasion of privacy—are treated as brief obstacles rather than issues that force substantial change. When Solène discovers that Hayes’ public gestures may be routine publicity strategies rather than sincere exclusivity, the fallout results in a temporary rift but little lasting consequence. Conversations meant to probe the moral and social implications of a relationship with a much younger star are often defused by the film’s eagerness to justify the romance rather than interrogate it.
Still, The Idea of You is not without pleasures. Its soundtrack supplies catchy pop moments, its leads are visually and emotionally engaging, and its fashion and cinematography lend an aspirational gloss. For viewers seeking an attractive, escapist romance with a comfortable payoff, the film will satisfy. For those looking for sharper character work, deeper stakes, or a more rigorous exploration of the power dynamics at play, the movie feels disappointingly light.
Ultimately, The Idea of You succeeds as a polished, star-driven fantasy but falls short of becoming a compelling, fully formed romantic drama. It offers a glossy daydream—beautifully dressed and well-performed—but one that never quite digs deep enough to be memorable beyond its surface pleasures.
Score: 13/24
Rating: 2 out of 5