THE IDEA OF YOU

US, 2024, 115 minutes, Colour.

Anne Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, Ella Rubin, Annie Mumolo, Reid Scott.

Directed by Michael Showalter.

This is a romantic comedy with a difference. Society has always accepted that older men can have romances, relationships, marriage with younger women. However, this is not the case with the older women and a relationship with a younger man, this variation on the May-December situation.

This is at the centre of this film, which makes more impact than might have been initially anticipated. There is the strength of the presence of Anne Hathaway as the Gallery owner turning 40, Solene, divorced, a sense of betrayal by her husband, and a teenage daughter to whom she is devoted. The other aspect of the casting is having British actor Nicholas Galitzine as a lead singer in a Boy Band. Anne Hathaway has a 20 year career in films, including an Academy award for her portrayal of 17 in Les Miserables. Nicholas Galitzine has shown quite an ability in diverse roles, a Marine in Purple Hearts, an American college jock in Bottoms, a British Prince in red, White  & Royal cope blue, as well as the ambiguous George in his relationship with James I in the television series, Mary and George.

The situation of the two meeting is credible enough, a mistake on the part of Solene, the interested response of Hayes and his singing for her at one of his performances.

From the point of view of the older woman, the film shows both risk and caution, hesitation and getting to know the young man better, very much attracted and making a life-changing decision. From the point of view of the young man, this is an opportunity to be taken seriously, to enter an adult relationship.

There are a pleasant aspects of the story, the touch of affluence, the art world and the Gallery, popular music and the band’s performances.

While there are idyllic scenes as Solene goes on European tour with Hayes, touristic glimpses as well as romantic episodes in famous cities, there is the inevitable opening up of consequences for each of the characters, their being photographed in Paris, the inevitable posting of photos on social media, the consequences, the exposure, and, very strikingly in this film, the extraordinary hostility and injustice of condemnations of the older woman, blaming her for the relationship, blackening her name, condemning her as a person.

Which means that the later part of the film shows this conflict, how each of the characters handles the situation and the consequences for themselves personally. Just as the film was about to end, there is a postscript, five years later, what the five years have meant and indications for the future.

1. Romantic comedy with a difference? The issue of age difference? Different attitudes for older men, for older women?
2. The Los Angeles settings, homes and families, rock concerts, art galleries, affluent society? The scenes in New York? The international travel and the key spots of Europe?
3. The musical score, the background, the range of songs, Boy Bands, performance, insertion of songs in the action, the lyrics?
4. The stage performances, the members of the group, Hayes and his style, the personalities of each of the members of the group?
5. Solene, Anne Hathaway’s performance, her career? Turning 40? The story of her life, studies, meeting Daniel, marriage, birth of the daughter, his infidelities, gossip and her humiliation, the divorce? Her love for her daughter? Her Gallery, her staff, clients, the works of art, sculpture, ceramics, paintings…? The plan to go off to camp? Daniel and his impositions, her going to the concert, the noise, the crowds, for the toilet, the caravan, the mistake, encountering Hayes?
6. Hayes, his age, story, family background, singing, auditions, the Boy Band, friends with the members of the group, the travelling lifestyle, the performances? His more serious approach?
7. The credibility of the May-December romance? His singing, her being in the audience, the dedication, turning up at the Gallery, the tour, offering to buy everything? The discussion of the art? Her special painting – and his later buying it and delivering it? The paparazzi outside, driving away and his concealing himself?
8. At the house, the talk, the attraction, cleaning the fridge, sandwiches, the attraction, the kiss, the reactions? Solene and her self-consciousness?
9. Izzy, her age, friends, the concerts, teenagers on pop culture, her relationship with her mother, with her father, going to the summer camp?
10. Hayes and his invitation for Solene to go to New York, her decision to go, the time together, the sexual relationship, falling in love, her return to LA? His invitation to her to accompany him, the hesitation, accepting, the plane, the other members of the group, the groupies, various cities, the concerts, the relationship, their time together? The different cities and their style, glamour, the couple kissing, the risk, the photographs?
11. The swimming pool scene with the young women, bikinis, Solene’s self-consciousness, the talk, humiliated, leaving, aggressive towards Hayes?
12. The return, Solene and her secrecy, her friends and wanting information? The warning about social media, her shock, the photos?
13. The impact of social media, audience response to the trolling, the vicious comments, the range, the effect for Solene? For Hayes? Her breaking with Hayes, regrets, his visits, the discussions?
14. Daniel and his confronting the couple? Izzy and her response?
15. The issues of the paparazzi, photographers, gossip magazines, social media, the viciousness of attitudes towards older women with younger men (and not with older men with younger women)?
16. The hard decision for Solene, the break, handling the situation, with Hayes? Her listening to his music – the seeming end of the film?
17. Then five years later, Hayes and his career, performances, on the Graham Norton show, Solene watching, the return? The future?