REVIEW: Anne Hathaway Charms In ‘The Idea Of You’

Stories about a romantic interest and a boy band star are common outside the United States. From webtoons to dramas, it’s a topic that Korean Drama writers have been exploring for over a decade. Now, America is moving beyond just the teen romance that we’ve seen before with The Idea of You. Produced by Amazon MGM and set to be released on Prime Video, the series The Idea of You is directed by romantic comedy veteran Michael Showalter and written by Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt, adapted from the novel by Robinne Lee.

Three years after her divorce, Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom, is ready to embark on a new adventure: camping by herself. Her husband is set to bring her daughter on an epic Coachella adventure with backstage passes to her favorite band, August Moon. Or rather, her favorite band from the seventh grade. But when an unexpected business trip resets all of the plans, Solène winds up in the VIP section of Coachella. When she accidentally wanders into 24-year-old Hayes Campbell’s (Nicholas Galitzine) trailer, she starts an unexpected romance. But what can a 40-year-old and the lead singer of August Moon have in common? A lot.

There is an instant, undeniable spark. As they begin a whirlwind romance, it isn’t long before Hayes’ superstar status poses unavoidable challenges to their relationship. Solène is a mother, and that comes first when she soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for.

The Idea of You understands fandom and how it can harm lives. Don’t get me wrong, the community I’ve found through my favorite K-pop group has been healing. However, when even a small inkling of a romance rears its head, fans get scary. The film doesn’t just show the social media comments and headlines in blogs; it also shows the deeply personal impact of societal pressures that come with having a public romance with celebrities. While it focuses on a boy band star, it can be extended to any number of women, like producer Gabrielle Union, who are married to famous men with large fandoms. It’s the women who suffer and have to withstand the jealousy and aggression of others.

Nobody likes a happy woman.

When you take a step back, the broader conversation that The Idea of You has isn’t dependent on celebrity. It’s about how the world expects older women, for moms, to stop being human once they surpass a certain age or have a child. Their lives end…but they don’t. While the age-gap romance is the first conflict of the film, the core of the film comes in its last act. Personal conflict is the first step, and societal conflict is the second.

While many rom-coms would end when the 40-year-old woman and the pop star get together, The Idea of You continues past the expected happy ending. The first two acts happen in standard rom-com fashion. Our leads fall in love, tackle their age gap, break up, and come back together. Instead of rolling credits, The Idea Of You thoughtfully explores the complexity of societal pressures that make “love conquers all” an idea instead of an achievable goal.

Love may get you through a lot, but at the end of the day, Solène is still a mother of a teenage daughter. She still must put her daughter first, and the world of high school is cruel. The choice to explore the complexities of life and how they intersect with romantic love is what makes the film stand out against the Korean series and films that tackle the same subject. Izzy isn’t a child per se. She’s a young adult, a teen who has to endure ridicule from her peers, and fully understands the implications that come with the word “Cougar.”

One of the most exciting things about The Idea of You is how it looks at the idea of “coming of age.” Growing as a person and learning who you are aren’t restricted to young adults. Since her divorce, Solène has been redefining who she is even before she drives her daughter to Coachella. Life after major milestones, including divorce, is shaking. You have to learn to be yourself again, but at the same time, you have to learn who you are at a new age and with new societal expectations.

The Idea of You is a fairly standard romantic comedy, but Anne Hathaway’s charisma extends well beyond the genre’s simple charm. Her Solène establishes herself as a force and a mother who always puts her daughter first, even when it goes directly against her desires.

As society and personal life converge in the film’s third act, it separates itself from a relatively crowded and complicated pack. Instead, The Idea of You looks past what happens when the traditional rom-com ends and gives the audience the answer. It’s messy, but it also examines what you must do when you love someone. A stellar rom-com that challenges what audiences think about what “coming of age” can mean, The Idea of You shows why we need more romantic comedies in every way.

The Idea of You, screened as a part of the 2024 SXSW Film & TV Festival, is streaming now on Prime Video.