Summary
The Idea of You follows a 40-year old divorced mother, Solène, when she stumbles into a backstage meet-cute with Hayes Campbell, the charismatic lead singer of a boy band. What starts as a flirtation turns into a whirlwind romance that blurs fantasy and reality. Between tour stops, stolen hotel rooms, and the glare of global fandom, Solène is forced to confront the gap between desire and the life she’s built, while Hayes tries to prove that what they have is more than a tabloid headline. The story plays with themes of ageism, autonomy, and the double standards that shape how society views older women in relationships with younger men. Solène’s struggle isn’t just about dating a pop star; it’s about reclaiming a sense of self after years of shrinking to fit expectations. Hayes becomes a symbol of possibility - youth, freedom, and the version of herself she thought she’d aged out of. But the fantasy collides with reality when the internet turns on her, exposing the brutal way fandom culture can dehumanise women who step into spaces fans believe they “own.”
Thoughts
I think this movie was everything it intended to be. Comedic, romantic and allows the watcher to delve into a fantasy that is so unhinged it could only exist in the overlap between fanfiction and a midlife crisis. The movie definitely tried to be more profound and thought-provoking at times but it edged over into cringe - especially the conversation at the birthday party. But whenever it tries to be profound, it veers straight into cringe - most notably during the birthday‑party conversation, which felt like someone’s aunt trying to speak in Gen‑Z metaphors after reading one think‑piece on the internet.
At times, the dialogue has that unmistakable “I’m 14 and this is deep” energy. A few of the main emotional speeches feel like they were written by someone who wanted to say something meaningful about ageism, desire, and identity, but didn’t quite know how to land it without sounding like a Tumblr text post from 2013. Instead of letting the themes breathe, the script occasionally forces them into moments that don’t need them, making the characters sound less like real people and more like adults doing dramatic monologues to themselves in the mirror.
That said, the film still works because it never loses sight of its core purpose: to be fun. Anne Hathaway elevates the clunky (and slightly cringey) lines, and Nicholas Galitzine leans into the pop‑star fantasy with enough sincerity to make the whole thing feel charming, where it could have easily felt embarrassing. I think if they had picked any other actors for this, it would have completely flopped, due to the less-than-perfect script and the unbelievableness of the plot.
Recommendation
This is a movie to watch when you’re in the mood for a comedic romance. It nails the genre on the head, and allows you into the fantasy for a short time. Not a must‑watch, but absolutely the right choice when you want something charming, sparkly, and a little bit delusional in a good way. The Idea of You is best enjoyed with a nice cocktail and a face mask.
