Solène, a 40-year-old single mom, begins an unexpected romance with 24-year-old Hayes Campbell, the lead singer of August Moon, the hottest boy band on the planet.
Chuck says:
I was suspect of Michael Showalter’s “The Idea of You,” an adaptation of the novel by Robinne Lee. I was afraid this tale of a 40-year-old woman who gets involved with a much-younger man – a member of a boy band no less – would be an exploitive exercise that would focus on the more salacious elements of the story. However, I was pleasantly surprised by the intelligence of the script, the time spent to flesh out the two main characters, and the realistic way in which this complex situation was handled.
Supposedly inspired by the relationship between film director Olivia Wilde and pop star Harry Styles, Solene (Anne Hathaway) is a divorced, single mother on the cusp of her 40th birthday. Though she has yet to come to terms with the split with her husband (Reid Scott), her life is good, her art gallery a success, her relationship with her teen daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin), healthy.
Needless to say, falling for a 24-year-old member of “August Moon” is the last thing on her mind. Yet, that’s what occurs when she takes Izzy and her friends to Coachella and, in a rather clever meet-cute, wanders into Hayes Campbell’s (Nicholas Galitzine) trailer, thinking it’s a V.I.P. restroom. Tentative flirting occurs, a few sparks fly, and during the show, a romantic ballad is sung and dedicated. And that should have been that…but it isn’t as Campbell can’t get Solene out of his mind. Wouldn’t you know it, he shows up at her gallery and buys every piece she has. Swept away by it all, Solene discounts the many fans and paparazzi that appear outside her business and after making a backdoor escape, she’s soon making BLT’s for Hayes at her home.
What ensues goes against expectations, as rather than simply falling into bed, a series of revelations occur that flesh out these characters, their fears and desires exposed, their vulnerabilities made plain. This goes a long way towards laying a foundation of credibility to this incredulous premise while the two leads are never caught overplaying a scene, sincerely mining their characters’ emotions. While Galitzine seems initially a step behind his veteran co-star, he soon catches up, giving as good as he gets, the two developing the type of chemistry necessary to make any love story work. As for Hathaway, she has developed into one of our most reliable, versatile actresses, and she’s allowed to run the gamut here, in a role that becomes surprisingly complex.
The adaptation by Jennifer Westfeldt and Showalter is surprisingly smart and handles this unique situation in as honest a way as possible. Obviously, the issue of age is addressed but more importantly the reaction on social media to their relationship and its impact is explored. The intense scrutiny these characters must endure isn’t exaggerated and neither is what Izzy has to contend with from her callous, immature peers. The ripple effect of this rings true and leads to decisions based more on logic than emotion.
To be sure, the film sags in the middle and some will object to the conclusion. Yet, in the end the sincerity of the two leads and the genuine nature of the story helps “Idea” exceed expectations. Much more than a simple fantasy, it proves to be an engaging look at the emotional toll that’s exacted when we put matters of the heart aside and compromise in the name of common sense.
3 Stars
