The Idea of You resonated personally with me as it delved into the complexities of age-related relationships, striking a chord with how societal judgments can shape our experiences and influence our loved ones. Anne Hathaway’s performance, as always, was captivating, effortlessly embodying the nuances of her character. Her portrayal added depth to the narrative, earning a solid 7 out of 10 for her remarkable portrayal and the overall execution of the storyline.
The cinematography beautifully captured the essence of the narrative, enhancing the viewing experience. The production design recreated the world of the characters, immersing the audience in their reality. Moreover, the emotional impact was profound, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. Overall, Hathaway’s adept performance, coupled with the engaging plot, stunning visuals, and emotional resonance, resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable cinematic experience, deserving of its commendable rating.
The Idea of You is a 2024 American romantic comedy film directed by Michael Showalter from a screenplay he co-wrote with Jennifer Westfeldt, based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee. Starring Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, it chronicles the love affair between a single mother and the lead singer of a popular boy band.
A film adaptation of the novel was announced in late 2018 by the producers Cathy Schulman and Gabrielle Union; no further development was made until in mid-2021 with the involvement of Westfeldt, Hathaway, Showalter, and Galitzine being announced. The film was shot by cinematographer Jim Frohna predominantly in Georgia during late 2022.
During post-production, Peter Teschner edited the film while Siddhartha Khosla composed the original score. Savan Kotecha composed and wrote the original songs. The Idea of You premiered at South by Southwest on March 16, 2024, and was released by Amazon MGM Studios as a Prime Video original film on May 2, 2024.
About the Story
Solène Marchand is a divorced art gallery owner living in Los Angeles. As her fortieth birthday approaches, she plans to go on a solo camping trip while her ex-husband Daniel takes their teenage daughter Izzy and her friends to an arts festival (Coachella). But at the last minute, Daniel is called away by work, and Solène reluctantly agrees to forego camping and accompany the teens to the festival.
Daniel had arranged for the teens to have a meet-and-greet at the festival with a boy band called August Moon. While waiting in the VIP area, Solène enters what she believes is a bathroom, only to discover that it is August Moon member Hayes Campbell’s trailer. The pair flirt, although Solène, who is sixteen years older than Hayes, is uncomfortable with their attraction. Later, during August Moon’s performance, Hayes seemingly changes the show’s setlist, dedicating a song to her.
Solène attends her birthday party but finds herself disillusioned with prospective men her age. Shortly after the festival, Hayes shows up unannounced at Solène’s gallery, seemingly interested in purchasing art. After he buys every piece in the gallery, Solène takes him to a friend’s warehouse studio, where they discuss life and art.
At Solène’s house for lunch, she reveals her insecurities as a result of her ex-husband’s affair, and Hayes reveals his desire to be taken seriously as a musician. They kiss, but Solène rebuffs him. Hayes leaves his watch behind, then, finding Solène’s phone number on the gallery invoice, texts her to join him in New York City. With Izzy at summer camp, Solène flies to New York and meets him at his hotel where they have sex. Hayes convinces her to travel with him on August Moon’s European tour. Solène wishes to keep their relationship private and does not tell Izzy or anyone else.
As the band vacations in the south of France, Solène becomes uncomfortable about her age in relation to the other women traveling with them. Other members of the band tell her that Hayes’s dedication of a song to her was a tactic they use to impress women, and that Hayes has previously pursued relationships with older women. Solène, feeling misled and disillusioned about the relationship, abruptly returns to Los Angeles. Daniel, who has heard about Solène’s relationship, questions her about it, but she denies that she and Hayes were together.
Soon afterward, paparazzi photos of the relationship surface online, causing Solène to attract large amounts of unwanted attention. When she goes to pick Izzy up at camp, Izzy is furious at having been lied to, but forgives her mother. Solène goes to a recording studio where Hayes is working, and they rekindle their relationship, beginning to date publicly. She and her family delete their social media accounts.
The Idea of You (2024)
Directed by: Michael Showalter
Starring: Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott, Perry Mattfeld, Jordan Aaron Hall, Mathilda Gianopoulos, Meg Millidge, Cheech Manohar, Raymond Cham
Screenplay by: Michael Showalter, Jennifer Westfeldt
Production Design by: Amy Williams
Cinematography by: Jim Frohna
Film Editing by: Peter Teschner
Costume Design by: Jacqueline Demeterio
Set Decoration by: Melisa Jusufi
Art Direction by: Kat Rich
Music by: Siddhartha Khosla
MPAA Rating: R for some language and sexual content.
Distributed by: Amazon Studios
Release Date: March 16, 2024 (SXSW), May 2, 2024 (United States)
Views: 37
