The closing night feature film at this year’s SXSW Film & TV Festival is the new movie from filmmaker Michael Showalter. Showalter, a familiar face at SXSW, premiered his previous movies, Hello, My Name Is Doris and The Big Sick, to great acclaim. The Idea of You, a refreshing take on romantic comedies, also struck a chord with the festival’s audiences. Showalter’s ability to infuse fresh themes and topics into the film’s blend of relationship comedy and drama is a testament to his storytelling prowess.
Anne Hathaway stars as Solène Marchand, a divorcee and single mother who pursues a whirlwind romance with a member of a popular boy band. After her ex-husband, Daniel (Reid Scott), has to cancel at the last minute, Solène takes her daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin) and her friends to the Coachella Music and Arts Festival. The successful boy band August Moon is one of the acts performing at the event. When an awkward mistake causes Solène to encounter August Moon singer Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), the two share an instant romantic attraction.
At first, Solène is hesitant to explore a relationship with the younger pop singer, Hayes. However, as their connection deepens, she can no longer deny her true feelings. Hayes reciprocates the intensity of her love, but their relationship is not without its challenges. The harsh criticisms from the internet and media, fueled by jealousy and judgment, threaten to extinguish their fiery romance, adding a poignant layer to their love story.
With an adapted screenplay by Jennifer Westfeldt, Michael Showalter’s adaptation of Robinne Lee’s novel (of the same name) is absolutely lovable and delightful. The movie is romantic, sexy, funny, and sometimes heartrending. In addition to the usual themes with relationship stories, The Idea of You also delivers commentary on internet culture, voracious paparazzi media coverage of celebrities, and simply the ugly side of people when they are either jealous or judgmental.
The movie has a beautiful cast, with Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine lighting up the screen, warming our hearts, and turning on the heat as the romantic leads. The film also has a solid supporting cast, with Ella Rubin, Reid Scott, Annie Mumolo, and Perry Matfield. Reid Scott is particularly significant as Daniel, the frustrating and often hateful ex-husband.
The Idea of You won the hearts of its audience at SXSW and is sure to win over many more now that it is available for streaming on Amazon Prime. I wish this movie could play in theaters, as it is tailor-made for a terrific movie date. At the same time, it is also a great film to stream on Amazon Prime and chill at home.