R | 1h 57m | Drama, Romance | 2024
Let me start this review by telling you everything “The Idea of You” (“Idea”) is not. Contrary to the opinions of most critics, it is not a comedy; one look at the (nonspoiler) trailer will prove this. It is also not a typical “R” rated movie. There is no nudity, deviance, or drug use, but there are a completely unneeded handful of “F-bombs” which by MPAA guidelines requires an “R” rating.
“Idea” is a mature romantic drama, meaning it will not likely appeal to anyone under the age of 25 and barely qualifies as what people understand to be a “chick flick,” although women who gravitate to those kinds of movies will make up the lion’s share of viewers. If you are a man and your wife or girlfriend wants you to watch it with her, agree immediately; don’t argue. You might actually like it, and you’ll earn major Brownie points in the process.
The movie stars the always reliable and classically gorgeous Anne Hathaway as Solène, a nearly 40-year-old single mom and art gallery owner, who is looking forward to a solo camping trip; this is when her daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin) has plans to attend the annual Coachella music festival with her friends, chaperoned by Izzy’s father (also Solène’s ex) Daniel (Reid Scott) and his trophy wife Eva (Perry Mattfeld).
Meet-Cute at Coachella
In a most ingenious manner, screenwriters Michael Showalter (also the director) and Jennifer Westfeldt (adapting the novel by Robinne Lee) come up with a “meet-cute” introduction between Solène and Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the 24-year-old lead singer of August Moon. Hayes is impressed that Solène doesn’t recognize him, and Solène silently appreciates the longing, yet innocent way he looks at her.
The chemistry between the two leads is immediate and electric, yet neither rushes into anything physical. However, Hayes wastes no time in flirting and upping his charm offensive. He starts by buying every piece of art in Solène’s gallery in the hopes that this will free her to join him during an upcoming European tour. It also helps that Izzy will be away at camp all summer.
Gender Reversal
In the few instances where the genders are reversed as they are here, eyebrows are raised. Although “The Graduate” (1967), “Harold & Maude” (1971), “Summer of ’42” (1971), “White Palace” (1990), and “Adore” (2013) are all great movies, they’re mostly remembered because of their May-December content.The filmmakers of “Idea” deserve immense credit for adding two key narrative details. The ages of the leads are close to those of their characters, which adds more believability, and both are well past legal consent age, something that was not the case in three of the abovementioned titles.
Secondly, at the halfway point, the writers pivot from intimate, passionate, and secretive romance, to harsh but authentic commentary on vulture tabloid journalism that engulfs the private lives of celebrities in general, and the crushing toll and fallout it can take on their non-celebrity “civilian” partners and their families, in particular.
Also in the plus column is the soundtrack. Although August Moon is a “fake” band, the half-dozen or so songs included here are snappy and original, and sung by Mr. Galitzine who could easily be a professional full-time singer. Some of the period source songs by artists such as St. Vincent, Fiona Apple, Minnie Riperton, Jeanne Cherhal, the Bangles, and Maggie Rogers are mostly obscure love songs that one wouldn’t usually find included in such a mainstream movie.
Mr. Showalter (“The Big Sick,” “The Lovebirds,” “The Eyes of Tammy Faye”) has again made a movie that does something different with a type of movie with generally low expectations without alienating established fans of those respective genres. He also ends the film in a manner I wasn’t expecting but it made sense: refreshingly poetic, positive, life-affirming, and upbeat.
