- Release year: 2024
- Director: Michael Showalter.
- Producers: Anne Hathaway, Eric Hayes, Robinne Lee, Jordana Mollick, Cathy Shulman, Michael Showalter and Gabrille Union.
- Screenplay by: Michael Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt.
- Cinematographer: Jim Frohna.
- Music by: Siddhartha Khosla.
Synopsis: a mother meets a very famous boy bander, and they fall in love, having to deal with the situation that puts them in.
Shotgun Commentary: light romcom that brings up heavy issues.
Review
The Idea of You explores the dynamics of relationships with an age gap. Particularly, those where the older partner is a woman and the younger, a man. Solène (Anne Hathaway) meets Hayes (Nicholas Galitzine), a singer in a boy band, by accident during her stay at Coachella. They fall in love and navigate the ups and downs of a public relationship that stands out even further due to the age difference.
Ugly truths
Were it not for the themes it brings up, this film would fall into the category of average romcoms only made special by Anne Hathaway’s incredible acting abilities. Luckily, there are a couple of crucial subjects around which the plot revolves that make The Idea of You quite relevant in today’s society.
Regardless of how many rights women fight for and gain, or how open-minded we like to think of ourselves, relationships with a big age gap are still regarded as taboo. Furthermore, while we are more than used to seeing old men parading women in their 20s, thanks in great part to figures like Hugh Hefner or Leonardo DiCaprio, this same gaps are regarded as “disgusting” and “sick” by a big majority of people when the roles are reversed.
What is most curious about this situation is not that men are heroes when they date women much younger, while women in the same position are monsters. That is a sad reality that doesn’t turn heads any more. What is most curious is how many women engage in this judgement. A lot of women who think of themselves as feminists also have this biased prejudice.
The great majority, which includes men AND women, still light the torches and sharpen their pitchforks whenever a relationship like this is brought to their attention, which proves that there is still a very long way until women are seen as equal to men. Moreover, this is another example of how everyone feels entitled to make decisions on what women can or cannot do.
It’s all connected
This leads us to another central topic of The Idea of You: the stardom and its consequences. Hayes story is one that everyone knows through all the narrations of many child stars and ex-boy banders. It is not new, and it is not relatable, although it is sad to a point. However, Solène’s story is just as common. This point of view usually gets buried under gossip and lies.
Credit: Alisha Wetherill/Prime.
Every single time a celebrity begins a new relationship, a hell storm falls over them. When the person is famous and has a team of people managing their public lives, it is easier to brave the storm. Sadly, if that person is not a celebrity, they have to deal with a very new and difficult situation overnight. This has only worsened with social media, where everyone feels the need to share their opinions, cruel as they may be.
The possibility to hide behind a screen brings out the true nature of people. If someone is unhappy with their lives, they thoughtlessly say horrible things just to feel better. This is an unfair situation brought by platforms that offer limitless self-expression to people with no self-accountability or respect towards other people. In Solène’s case, both of this societal issues blend together in a perfect storm.
The perfect lead
Anne Hathaway is the queen of romcoms, so her flawless performance is not surprising. Nevertheless, the novelty of seeing her as a mother who faces the worst kind of fame one can have is hypnotic. She embodies Solène and makes her so likeable that you can’t help but suffer for her. Even though there are no surprises in the plot, Solène’s rollercoaster of emotions pulls you in, making you feel what she feels and worry about her every step of the way. There are very few actresses with the mastery to make such powerful displays of emotions, which is why Hathaway is the perfect choice.
All in all, while the film doesn’t say anything new, it does bring up some situations that are worth considering before passing judgement onto others, especially when you are going to make your opinions public.
Advice to take from this movie:
- Think before you write ANYTHING on social media.
- Don’t believe everything you hear on gossip websites.
- Cliché, but age is just a number, don’t judge people, don’t judge.
What’s your take? Have you watched The Idea of You? Don’t hesitate to let me know your thoughts in the comments section below, or leave a message in my contact page! For more reviews and cinema-related articles, check out the rest of my blog! 😀