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“The Idea of You”, the new feature film by Michael Showalter, meets all the essential requirements of a quality romantic comedy. In an era in which the genre seems worn out and disenchanted, it is pleasant to see a kind of renaissance announced in 2024.
Just arriving on Prime Video from Amazon in early May 2024, “The Idea of You” quickly became the most watched film on the platform – both in the United States of America and in Portugal. It’s not surprising, after all, protagonist Anne Hathaway has done an excellent job promoting a film with an unusual PR machine for a direct streaming debut.
Furthermore, “The Idea of You” is based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee. Released at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, this book quickly became one of the most popular and a guilty pleasure widely recognized. And no matter how many essays defend women’s right to their stories, a legitimate and more important cause than it may seem in the course of a superficial discussion, it is undeniable that “The Idea of You” is really a story based on fan fiction – fiction written by fans, published in online forums and disseminated through the fabric of pop artist fan groups.
Now, Robinne Lee’s book shamelessly evokes the phenomenon of One Direction and, more specifically, Harry Styles. Of course, here they are calledand August Moon and Harry becomes Hayes Campbell, but the idea is there. And despite the origins of this story, based on the fantasy of escapism into the world of the rich, famous and pop stars, Michael Showalter (responsible for worthy comedies and focusing on characters such as “Hello, My Name is Doris” and “ The Big Sick”) and his co-screenwriter Jennifer Westfeldt managed to convert the slightly goofy idea of “The Idea of You” into a robust romantic comedy, one of the most robust in recent years.
And since I gave the book a chance, in anticipation of the film’s release on Prime Video, I take this opportunity to draw a very brief set of comparisons. The film “The Idea of You” could well borrow the basic premise of the story – the band is the same and the specific details are similar, but in everything the text written for cinema rises in relation to the base narrative.
Without a doubt, a romantic comedy about a middle-aged woman who falls in love with the lead singer of a boy band after meeting him in a meet and greet it will never be the basis for a masterpiece of the 7th art. But “The Idea of You” doesn’t need or try to be any of that, it’s just a honest romantic comedywith two charismatic and attractive central characters and the ability to make us laugh and cry.
There are many creative liberties that work in favor of those who watch the film: Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine) is older in this version of the story, being 24 years old instead of 19, a brutal difference in the discomfort caused (or not) by the love relationship between a divorced woman and a popular music star. Furthermore, the daughter of Solène (Anne Hathaway) she is also a teenager instead of a child (and August Moon are no longer her favorite band, they are “so seventh year” and he stayed at the St. Vincent concert and even dispensed with the meet and greet bought by a father who was out of touch with his daughter’s tastes). This way, she gains maturity and loses discomfort.
Furthermore, Showalter and company give the recently divorced Solène and her favorite singer the opportunity to not simply get to know each other at a meeting between fans and band, but in a more private, special way and worthy of the best romantic comedies. Not to mention that, without revealing too much, the end of the story is entirely changedoe becomes much more exciting.
Among fans, chaos and many musical numbers recreated and songs created and performed specifically for the film, “The Idea of You” benefits from a solid argument that makes us believe in the passionate relationship between these two unlikely lovers. Nicholas Galitzine, perhaps best known to date for the queer romance “Red, White & Royal Blue”, is charming as a star who drinks the mannerisms, looks and even vocal inflections of Harry Styles. Nevertheless, and fortunately for the film, we believe in his character as something more than a mere transfer of the former One Direction member.
However, the film’s biggest shining star and grace is Anne Hathaway. Throughout this film’s long promotional tour, Hathaway has defended her right to star in a romantic comedy without great aspirations for greatness. The actress made it very clear that her Oscar-winning status will not prevent her from choosing a role simply because the script pleases her. AND we can see how much Anne gave herself to her Solènegiving it a depth and emotionality that, let’s be honest, are often missing in this type of film.
A few months ago, the box office success “Anyone But You”, with Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, was announced as a return to romantic comedy form. Around here, we think that “Anyone But You” is formulaic, empty and populated by characters that are not very credible and plastic. This “The Idea of You”, with all the absurdity and fantasy of its plot, an ordinary woman, a much younger pop star and her strong and deep passion, manages to make itself feel much more palpable.
What would we do differently? Perhaps the film is a little too long, perhaps the slow-motion musical montage, as Solène and Haynes stroll through Europe, is excessive and prolonged, but in general this feature film is very skillful when it comes to fulfilling its purpose. raison d’être.
Furthermore, “The Idea of You” gives us a modest and welcome reflection beyond the novel of fan fiction. Solène, a 40-year-old woman betrayed by her husband, finds her lost self-love again throughout her filmic journey. And, interestingly, if we don’t ignore the parallelism with the shadow of strong inspiration in Harry Styles, known for dating older women, we can briefly review Olivia Wilde’s real journey in this film.
Wilde, once Harry Styles’ girlfriend, also toured Europe during one of the singer’s tours, and she was also accused of being a distant bad mother during her divorce process. At one point the phrase is uttered: “Do not know? Happy women are hated“. And, although superficially, “The Idea of You” does not forget to honor these women. These people deserve attention, affection, fun and lightness of spirit beyond their obligations as educators and workers. This film, however slight, respects its audience, respects its characters, and knows how to avenge them in fictionwhere sometimes the real world fails them.
TRAILER | THE IDEA OF YOU ON PRIME VIDEO
The Idea of You, the review
Movie title: The Idea of You
Movie description: Based on the celebrated contemporary love story of the same name, “The Idea of You” centers on Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mother who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine). and lead singer of August Moon, the most sought-after boy band in the world.
Date published: May 5, 2024
Country: USA
Duration: 117′
Author: Michael Showalter, Jennifer Westfeldt
Director(s): Michael Showalter
Actor(s): Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin
Genre: Romantic Comedy, Drama
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CONCLUSION
“The Idea of You” is no masterpiece, of course, but it is incredibly capable in its aims. It’s an intoxicating, sensual romantic comedy, with several moments capable of making you laugh, others genuinely emotional, and which unites everything perfectly through two excellent protagonists capable of elevating the text.
Pros
- The central performances of a consummate, Oscar-winning actress and a rising actor capable of bearing the weight of being alongside an Anne Hathaway who refuses to give 200% to a light but sincere story;
- The changes from the book to the film capable of taking a mediocre original text and making it much more special;
- The musicality inherent to the entire feature.
Cons
- A little too long and even with some repetition of ideas.
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Tags: romantic comedy year Anne Hathaway Nicholas Galitzine excellent form
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