It’s been a while since I’ve seen a solid RomCom. I’m not sure if THE IDEA OF YOU is that answer. But with the help of a strong lead performance from Anne Hathaway, THE IDEA OF YOU elevates to mildly entertaining.
Based on the popular 2017 novel by Robinne Lee, THE IDEA OF YOU follows a recently divorced 40-something old woman in an unlikely relationship with a younger boy-band member. While at Coachella with her teenage daughter and friends, they use gifted backstage passes to see popular boy band August Moon. After a humorous meet cute moment involving Solene (Hathaway) unknowingly walking into the trailer of boy band member Hays (Nicholas Galitzine) thinking it was the VIP restroom, Hays takes a liking to her. The two strike up a flirty relationship, which provokes Hays to shop up at Solene’s art studio before buying her entire showroom of pieces.
To be clear, Solene is an art dealer, not an artist. But more than that, she seems both confident and insecure as a professional and single mother. She is a likable, mostly well-written character. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Hays, who never goes beyond someone who longs to write his own music and be in love. However, he is also likable, just a little empty.
Supposedly based on former One Direction frontman Harry Styles, THE IDEA OF YOU resembles another popular romantic comedy from 1999. A gender reversal of NOTTING HILL so to speak. But with more of the focus on the age gap within dating a famous person. Plus it adds the nasty little twist of today’s social media influence and the quick response of online comments and cyber bullying. These are interesting new twists to the scenario, but the film fails to fully explore the difficulty or at least in a manner that makes the story memorable or entertaining. I’d just stick with NOTTING HILL.
Unnecessarily rated R and nearly two hours long, THE IDEA OF YOU is light and enjoyable. Director Michael Showalter keeps the film moving with ease and joy. It’s hard to believe that one of the guys from the hilarious comedy series ‘The State’ has since directed HELLO, MY NAME IS DORIS, THE BIG SICK, and now THE IDEA OF YOU. While I wouldn’t put THE IDEA OF YOU quite to the level of unique work as the other two, it is more accessible in a mainstream sort of way. I think THE IDEA OF YOU will fulfill that romantic comedy fix as a mediocre Amazon streaming film providing a few smiles through a couple of charming stars, especially Anne Hathaway, who absolutely crushes.
