‘The Idea of You’ review round-up: Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine sizzle in Prime Video’s ‘instant classic’ rom-com

Vincent Mandile
·5 min read
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On May 2, 2024, Amazon Prime Video premiered ‘The Idea of You,” a critical hit out of this year’s South by Southwest Festival starring Oscar winner Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine. The rom-com directed and co-written by Michael Showalter holds fresh at 91% on Rotten Tomatoes, and is based on the acclaimed novel of the same name by Robinne Lee.

“The Idea of You” centers on Solène (Hathaway), a 40-year-old single mom who begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell (Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet. When Solène must step in to chaperone her teenage daughter’s trip to the Coachella Music Festival, she has a chance encounter with Hayes and 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, and Solène soon discovers that life in the glare of his spotlight might be more than she bargained for. Read our full review round-up below. 

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Peter Debruge of Variety writes, “Improving upon the popular beach read by Robinne Lee, instant classic ‘The Idea of You’ stars a radiant-yet-relatable Anne Hathaway as a woman you can imagine a celebrity swooning for. It seems like only yesterday that the brown-eyed ingénue was putting on the tiara for ‘The Princess Diaries.’ Now, in her most romantic role since that live-action fairy tale, Hathaway plays Solène, a Silver Lake art gallery owner and 40-year-old divorcée who’s always made a point of putting her daughter first.” Adding, “She subtly conveys signals that show she’s lost faith in romance, suggesting that because Solène’s been burned by love before, she can’t be bothered to flirt. For his part, Galitzine plays Hayes as instantly interested, but emotionally cautious as well. Watching these two warm up to one another over the course of an art-shopping afternoon back in Los Angeles proves far more romantic than the whirlwind tour of Europe that follows. Surprisingly, the sexiest scene in the whole film doesn’t involve sex but a hungry first kiss — though there’s steam enough to come, as they ravage hotel rooms in Barcelona, Rome and Paris.”

Kate Sánchez of But Why Tho? A Geek Community praises the film, stating, “’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.”

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Ryan Scott of Slashfilm says, “Rom-coms are a staple of cinema and have been for decades. Right alongside action movies and horror flicks, these tales of romance infused with humor are often there to help anchor any given year at the movies. Yet, they are often viewed as nothing more than popcorn movies; the cinematic equivalent of empty calories. Director Michael Showalter’s ‘The Idea of You’ is here to remind us that these movies can be so much more than that. At their best, they can be illuminating experiences that shed meaningful light on the human condition. Thanks in no small part to a stellar performance by Anne Hathaway and a star-making turn for Nicholas Galitzine, this is the genre at its best.”

Lovia Gyarkye of Hollywood Reporter notes, “Most of the film’s charm comes from Hathaway. The Oscar-winning actress’ character is a mother torn between the established order of her life — running her art gallery, fostering a relationship with her daughter, healing from Daniel cheating on her — and the risk of a relationship with Hayes. Hathaway brings an attractive humor and surprising depth to Solene as she leaps into the unknown terrain of a new romance.” 

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