The Idea of You

An enjoyable romance that takes itself a tad too seriously in the second half, this film is driven by alluring turns from Hathaway and Galitzine. The premise of The Idea of You is centered on the idea that, at 40, Hathaway's Solène is considered too old for Galitzine's 24-year-old boy band member, Hayes. Society judges her, and she judges herself. But it's hard to think of the stunning Hathaway as "old," even when she's dodging awkward flirtation from divorced dads at her 40th birthday party in one of the film's funniest early scenes. Unfortunately, the film gives up on the humor and veers into melodrama as it works its way to a drawn-out ending. In this, and in the unhurried sex scenes focused on Solène's pleasure, the film makes its target audience clear.

The Idea of You has some insightful musings on the process of maturing in adulthood. Solène does eventually confirm her stage in life by choosing her daughter's happiness over her own. Hathaway also gives a moving monologue about the moment she realized her marriage was over. She's shown letting go of her anger and disappointment, and she's definitely the driver of this film. But Galitzine -- riding a wave, after Purple Hearts and Red, White & Royal Blue -- matches her. He transmits vulnerability as a self-doubting but talented artist, and his performances in the boy band concert sequences are right on the nose. In these and other scenes, the film plays with split screens, color filters, and slow motion, all of which -- combined with a varied soundtrack -- adds momentum to this entertaining, star-driven romance.