'The Idea of You' Review: Anne Hathaway shines in unconventional rom-com
‘The Idea of You’ Review: Anne Hathaway shines in unconventional rom-com
What are the odds of a middle-aged woman falling for a 20-something pop star?
Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine-starrer ‘The Idea of You’ answers this pretty well.
‘The Idea of You’ is a film which somewhat compels you into believing there is no age bar, there’s no time limit to finding yourself, to finding love, to getting a heartbreak. It definitely even pushes you into allowing yourself to be open to the idea of living and breathing every minute of the decisions that you take in life.
Anne Hathaway portrays the role of Solene, a 40-year-old single mother who owns a small art gallery. Nicholas Galitzine essays Hayes Campbell, a heartthrob from hit band August Moon, in this Michael Showalter film.
Hathaway still has got the same charm both on and off-screen. In fact, she lights up the screen every time she appears, and it almost looks as if she’s ageing backwards. What makes her performance worth a watch is the fact that, even though she’s not trying to recreate her younger years, she is able to sort of reclaim her lost youth with incredible vulnerability.
Nicholas Galitzine, on the other hand, compliments her well as the main lead, and his eyes and tattooed torso do most of the talking.
The chemistry between Hathaway and Galitzine is palpable. The spotlight is, however, on how the film breaks several stereotypes, particularly in the realm of romance and age dynamics.
It portrays a love story between the two, breaking away from the typical Hollywood portrayal of age-matched couples. Or let’s just say even the regular meet-cute rom-coms.
The film delves into taboo topics like societal judgement, ageism, and the complexities of modern relationships, encouraging viewers to question conventional norms and biases.
Both Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine’s characters are multidimensional, breaking away from simplistic stereotypes often seen in romantic films. They have depth, flaws, and aspirations that make them relatable and compelling.
Interestingly, ‘The Idea Of You’ also gives a reality check on the flip side of being a celebrity, as for them, it’s never easy to keep their personal lives under wraps, especially when it’s bound to make headlines.
If you’re into rom-coms, there are chances you will fall in love with the little details Michael Showalter has ensured through his vision in the film in certain sequences. You can’t help but gush over Anne and Nicholas’ scenes. For example, Hayes (Galitzine) purposely leaves his wristwatch around Solene (Hathaway) just as an excuse so that he can get to meet her yet again.
In parts, it does feel that the film is a bit slow in pace and has rom-com clichés, like how Hayes ends up buying everything from Solene’s art gallery to sort of impress her during his first visit to her showroom. But apart from that, there are moments that’ll also make this watch wholesome for the ones who like this genre.
This Michael Showalter directorial will leave you with the assurance you don’t need to be in your 20s, 30s or even 40s to justify love. It could happen to anyone, anytime.
3 out of 5 stars for ‘The Idea of You’.
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