Anne Hathaway is a delight in this enjoyable romcom. Her comic timing is as impeccable as always as 40-year-old mum Sol\u00e8ne, still reeling from the discovery that her sleazy husband Dan (Reid Scott) was having an affair. Now divorced, Sol\u00e8ne has thrown everything she has into raising their daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin) and running her boutique art gallery in Los Angeles. On the surface, at least, she seems successful and happy. Deep down, however, Sol\u00e8ne knows that there\u2019s something missing from her life.<\/p>\n
And then, unexpectedly, she finds it \u2013 at the Coachella music festival, of all places. Reluctantly chaperoning Izzy and her teenage friends to a meet-and-greet with their favourite boy band, Sol\u00e8ne wanders into the trailer belonging to Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine). She\u2019s just looking for a bathroom; instead she finds an amused 24-year-old heartthrob, best-known as part of the wildly successful band August Moon. Despite their 16-year age difference, the two instantly hit it off.<\/p>\n
Hayes, too, is feeling lost, despite his extraordinary success and the women who throw themselves at him non-stop. He feels trapped by his career path, yearning to be free. The fact that Sol\u00e8ne isn\u2019t starstruck by him is appealing. After a few coy meet-ups, Hayes offers Sol\u00e8ne a place by his side on August Moon\u2019s upcoming tour of Europe. At first reluctant, Sol\u00e8ne eventually accepts and soon, the two are head-over-heels for each other.<\/p>
However, is this love or just animal attraction? Is Sol\u00e8ne simply having a mid-life crisis? Is Hayes, as social media and the tabloids suggest, simply obsessed with dating \u2018cougars\u2019? How will their actions impact Izzy back home? And, as news of their relationship spreads and the paparazzi start their stalking, will the world ever leave them alone to find out?<\/p>\n
Fans of Robinne Lee\u2019s original novel will know that it doesn\u2019t skimp on the sex; Sol\u00e8ne and Hayes enjoy page after page of sauciness. The film is tame in comparison \u2013 it\u2019s rated 15, not 18 \u2013 but it pays homage to the novel with a smattering of mildly spicy moments to get pulses racing.<\/p>\n
And yet, this on-and-off romance is eye-rollingly familiar. Every beat of Sol\u00e8ne and Hayes\u2019s relationship could be plotted on a graph; nothing is new. That\u2019s not to say Hathaway isn\u2019t her usual magnetic self, and Galitzine builds confidently upon the cheeky charisma he displayed in his previous romcom Red, White and Royal Blue<\/a>. Their chemistry sizzles, just as it is supposed to.<\/p>\n But there isn\u2019t one surprise here. Each plot twist is telegraphed with groan-worthy obviousness. Example: Sol\u00e8ne mentions that she really loves a certain painting; guess what millionaire Hayes buys her in response?<\/p>\n Most disappointingly, the age gap itself feels superfluous. It\u2019s not often we see an older woman with a younger man in a movie, particularly when the reverse is so common it isn\u2019t even remarked upon. Reversing the genders on this trope should have led to some thought-provoking insights on societal double-standards.<\/p>\n Read more:<\/strong><\/p>\n While Hathaway does get the odd moment to complain about this unjustness, it all feels too slight. Scenes in which she feels inferior to the younger groupies on the band\u2019s tour reek of Mean Girls-style artificiality. The film\u2019s final act foregoes any real introspection by building up to a twee cop-out\u2026 something the book, at least, had the courage to avoid<\/a>.<\/p>\n Still, the charm of the two leads go a long way towards making The Idea Of You<\/a> an irresistibly playful and entertaining experience, regardless of the film\u2019s failed deeper messaging. Oh, and if you want more, check out August Moon: the half-fake band really have released an album to accompany the movie.<\/p>\n![\"Nicholas](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2024\/03\/IdeaofYou-Prime-Video-Nicholas-Anne-bdb2623.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"The")
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