As I settled in to watch the third instalment of post-2020 B-tier rom-coms starring Anne Hathaway, The Idea of You (following She Came to Me and Locked Down), a nagging sense of familiarity began to stir within me. This story is tethered to August Moon, a boy band only microscopically dissimilar from One Direction. Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the British boy band superstar, is tattooed, sensitive, and a little confused about his love life. Then there’s Solène Marchand (Anne Hathaway), a 40-year-old, single gallery owner living in Silver Lake with her teenage daughter. You’re thinking it, I’m thinking it: this movie might be capitalizing on the Harry Styles and Olivia Wilde drama.

It is. But not blatantly. Director Michael Showalter adapted Robinne Lee’s 2017 novel by the same name into a near mirror image of the dilemma—an age gap relationship, a British boy band member looking for something more, and a publicly angry ex-husband. And plenty of paparazzi.

Solène’s douchebag ex-husband, Dan (Reid Scott), and his colleague-turned-girlfriend, Eva (Perry Mattfeld), are supposed to take their daughter, Izzy (Ella Rubin), to Coachella. Cherishing the chance for some alone time, Solène is planning to head out to camp alone. That is until Dan is called into work and drops the kids back off with Solène. Off to Coachella, Solène finds sanctuary in the VIP tent before seeking out a restroom—in none other than Hayes’s trailer.

Then, The Idea of You heats up. It’s painfully clear that without explanation (or any natural budding chemistry), the two will fall head over heels for each other, despite Solène’s reluctance and claims that she’s too old for him. One thing leads to another; the romance is aflame. Music montages and split-screen shots push the narrative into hyperdrive, and we end up immersed in this flat-toned love affair—destined to crumble under the pressure of fame and family.

The Idea of You is off-key. Each touching or funny moment is dulled down by a story that feels unrehearsed. Performances fall flat, and it feels like the last days of any boy band with infighting. Nothing clicks. That said, Anne Hathaway is the solo act, delivering showstopping moments—like a confrontation between her and the woman her husband cheated on her with—that keep you invested in this otherwise forgettable film. R, 115 min.

Welcome to My Post

This is the content of the post.