Anne Hathaway plays a mother in this film with the same and laid-back personality type from her days as a teen actress. The Idea of You is a lighthearted romance film where there is an emphasis on meaning.  Hathaway’s role is the main point of interest of the film. The Idea of You challenges love at first sight, but also makes its audience consider the risks with any other type of relationship. Especially when one of the individuals is very high profile. Hathaway fits the role of an innocent and wonderful mom extremely well in The Idea of You.

Hathaway plays Solene, a single mother who owns an art gallery. Her daughter is Izzy (played by Ella Rubin). Solene mostly keeps to herself and thrives in her life of art with her studio. One day, she is forced to go with her daughter to see a boy band called August Moon, as her ex-husband couldn’t make it and she must fill in for his absence. While there, Solene steps into a random trailer, and runs into Hayes Campbell (played by Nicholas Galitzine). Hayes is the lead singer of August Moonand is extremely famous at this point in life. From there, a relationship of love and connection develops rapidly. Solene is in her forties and Hayes is twenty-four. The age-gap in therelationship is emphasized with enticing music as a backdrop to it all. However, the high-profile life of Hayes is where risks can come around for both Solene, Hayes, and others around them. Does their relationship truly have a form of connectivity? What is the benefit for Solene? What is the benefit for Hayes? Despite, the consequences, it is an adventurous love where boundaries are out the window.

Despite all of the deep consequences of this love affair, there remains a sensible side of appreciation in The Idea of You. The thrill of new love, the risks, and the many types of attention surrounding the age-gap of the relationship create a feel-good film with groovy thrills. Audiences want goodness in Hathaway’s and Galitzine’s performances. The “groovy thrills” come with the age-gap, the celebrity vibes surrounding the questionable relationship, and the love both have for one another…despite the uncertainty of where it will lead them.

When it comes to how moving parts play out in the heat of this unconventional relationship, The Idea of You paints an honest portrait of how this type of situation really goes. The fact of Hayes getting with a lady who is much older than him will impact his image and fame, and this same situation puts a label on Solene. There is a boiling point where their relationship becomes too hard to  maintain as a hidden one. The disruption ofdaily routines and the impact of general uncertainty of the future draw the line in The Idea of You as the lover’s grapple with the question of what takes precedence—fame or love?

With all the mixed feelings coming to a boiling point in The Idea of You, the seriousness of true connectivity is spot-on. Hathaway’s performance is on the most heartwarming level I have seen in a while. Her tone of empathy is seen in her brilliant eyes as she says, “I’m too old for you.” That quote emphasizes that despite knowing what the hearts wants and cannot have, it still craves a form of feeling love…no matter how big or small.

The overwhelming aspect throughout the film remains in thefact that Hayes has tons of fame. His is a life of wealthiness in a world of talent and contracts. A world where many are obsessed with him, and he has more money than he can spend. Does he get enough individualized attention? No, he does not.  This is what Solene provides for him when she is in his presence. It is something all of his money and fame cannot buy him. Falling in love, keeping a secret, having turmoil, and reconnecting—that is the pattern of relationship and resilience in The Idea of You. Three-and-a-half out of four stars.