Great rom-coms are few and far between these days — but director and co-writer Michael Showalter's recent entry, The Idea of You, based on the novel of the same name by Robinne Lee, is one that hits the jackpot.
Solène (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old art gallery owner and single mother, is frustrated when her ex-husband Daniel (Reid Scott) bails on his plan to take their 16-year-old daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin) to Coachella to see the (fictional) band August Moon.
Cue the meet-cute. At the festival, Solène mistakes a trailer for the washroom only to find out it belongs to 24-year-old Hayes (Nicholas Galitzine), the lead singer of August Moon. The chemistry between two is clear as they flirt trading casual banter. This is followed by an on-stage gesture by Hayes aimed at Solène. It's not long before the two start a whirlwind romance — one that Solène doubts at first, given their 15-year age gap, but soon embraces.
The rom-com formula is simple: a charming meet-cute between two lead characters with chemistry so palpable that audiences truly believe they're falling for each other. The Idea of You nails it on both counts, without being saccharine in any way. The film more or less sticks to the book, swapping out the original ending for a better one.
Hathaway, who starred in several classic romance films and comedies, including The Devil Wears Prada, One Day and The Princess Diaries, easily slips back into the rom-com genre in a role that seems fitting — like her character, she too turned 40 while filming. Hathaway brings depth and gravitas to Solène, a single mother who prioritizes her daughter and several other things before herself. She plays Solène as a strong, independent woman, and less of a mid-life crisis divorcée.
For his part, Galitzine — who previously charmed fans in Red, White & Royal Blue — yet again proves he's leading man material, whether he's on the throne or on the stage. He brings an unspoken maturity with how he carries himself, which makes the love story between the two feel authentic. His boy band charm, coupled with the puppy-dog eyes — not to mention the tattoos and the British accent — makes him a shoo-in for a Harry Styles-like pop singer, who many fans of the book believed to be the fan-fiction source.
The chemistry between Hathaway and Galitzine is the real reason why the film works so well. The whirlwind romance feels earned and genuine, with simple moments locked in with quiet intensity. In lesser hands, this May–December love story could have backfired and felt less credible.
The fact that the film doesn't fall into a trope — that an older woman is dating a younger man to relive her youth — is refreshing. Showalter embraces the rom-com formula while keeping it fresh, fun and swoon-worthy. The Idea of You is a feel-good, modern romance, and certainly one of the stronger ones we've seen in a while.