Though the movies centered around Anne Hathaway don’t succeed in reimagining the genre for a younger audience, she returns to the one that made her famous.
“The Idea of You” earns a commendable rating of 3.5 out of 5 stars, primarily due to the undeniable chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, who breathe life into their characters with a palpable and authentic connection. However, the film’s reliance on dated themes, particularly its focus on the One Direction phenomenon, may feel out of touch with contemporary audiences. Director Michael Showalter could have injected a fresher perspective into the narrative, revitalizing the concept for a modern audience. Despite this setback, the film maintains a steady pace throughout its 115-minute runtime, although some viewers may notice repetitive elements at the beginning and end.
For fans of romantic comedies, “The Idea of You” offers a compelling viewing experience, albeit leaning more towards drama than humor. Accessible via Amazon Prime Video, it provides an engaging option for those seeking heartfelt performances from its main cast, including Reid Scott, Ella Rubin, and Hathaway, alongside Galitzine. While the film’s themes may feel somewhat dated, Hathaway and Galitzine’s on-screen chemistry and genuine character bond make it worth a watch, especially for those enamored with the romantic genre.
It’s time for the romantic comedy subgenre to make a comeback. The genre has vanished into the void of streaming providers, with selections that were woefully lacking in terms of production quality and star power. And so we come to The Idea of You, a brand-new movie that succeeds in making a picture within the genre but falls short of updating the template.
Script analysis of the film The Idea of You
Based on a fan fiction story featuring Harry Styles, one of the most well-known members of the boy band One Direction, The Idea of You is the book that shares the same name as Robinne Lee. Fan fiction, or at least the most popular kind, has all the makings of a project that is similar to The Idea of You. It focuses mostly on romantic dreams and pairings, telling a story that feels true in terms of emotions but ludicrous in terms of plot.
The movie is ridiculous in a lot of ways, not because of the kind of relationship it tries to depict—you, an older woman played by Anne Hathaway, is one of the most beautiful people on the planet, and most men would love to be in a relationship with her—but because some of the plotting feels too sloppy, with plot points repeating themselves very close to each other and exposing the story’s seams for everyone to see.
Every fictitious movie demands the audience to suspend their disbelief, but really achieving that and keeping it there are two distinct things. I feel the movie should have been released at least ten years ago; perhaps then it would have felt more of the times, but as it stands, everything that is being depicted in the film feels like it is a ghost of a past generation, even though the film tries to convince you this is happening right now.
Here is the Trailer for The Idea of You Movie
Review of The Idea of You: A Star Performance
It’s practically a must for a romantic comedy to have movie stars, and many of the romantic comedies that have been out in the last five years haven’t had them. Thank goodness, Anne Hathaway was able to land the lead in The Idea of You, and the movie is all the better for it. The movie wouldn’t work without Hathaway’s solo performance. Even in scenes where the screenplay tries to make things difficult, Hathaway gives her character dignity.
In the meantime, Nicholas Galitzine portrays a very subtle pop singer who believes that this is the pinnacle of his career. Galitzine creates a simple figure that, for the most part, feels genuine and not just like a pixie boy. Galitzine has a lot of range and is undoubtedly someone to watch. A few months ago, she made an appearance in Bottoms, where she played a very different role. The other members of the cast are merely supporting roles; Hathaway and Galitzine are the only ones portraying actual characters.
The Idea of You Film Review: Direction and Music
Visually, The Idea of You falls flat, which is unfortunate, but this is what most American films of this genre do. Again, the film feels as if the director simply ordered “action” and let the performers do their thing in front of the camera. There is no visual flourish, no style, and the visual landscape appears extremely drab for a film about passion and love. It’s perplexing that so many filmmakers fail to recognize that cinema is a visual medium, and there is so much that can be done with the frame that films like this one feel like a missed opportunity.
The Idea of You Film Review: The Final Word
The romantic comedy genre gets another huge release with The Idea of You. However, it appears that the genre’s resurrection is simply: something dead being brought back to life rather than a rebirth of sorts. The genre must recognize that to be relevant over the next few decades, it must reinvent itself and demonstrate that films like these are still worth seeing in theaters rather than being consigned to streaming platforms until the end of time.
