‘The Idea of You’ review: Anne Hathaway steals the show

Within the warmly charming rom-com “The Concept of You,” Anne Hathaway performs a 40-year-old divorcee and Silver Lake artwork gallery proprietor who, after taking her teenage daughter to Coachella, turns into romantically concerned with a 24-year-old heartthrob within the boy band August Moon. They first meet after she errors his trailer for the toilet.

There are a number of hundred issues about this premise that may be farfetched, together with the chances of discovering love anyplace close to the porta johns of a music competition. However one among them just isn’t {that a} younger star like Hayes Campbell ( Nicholas Galitzine ) would fall for a single mother like Solène (Hathaway).

Solène is fashionable, unimpressed by Hayes’ celeb and has bangs so excellent they give the impression of being genetically modified. And, most significantly, she’s Anne Hathaway. Within the energy dynamics of “The Concept of You,” Hayes could also be a fictional pop star however Hathaway is a really actual film star. And also you don’t overlook it for a second in Michael Showalter’s flippantly interesting showcase of the actor at her resplendent finest.

“The Concept of You,” which debuts Thursday on Prime Video, is filled with all of the sorts of contradictions that may make a rom-com work. The extremely glamorous, megawatt-smiling Hathaway is taking part in a down-to-earth no one. The showbiz veteran within the film is performed by Galitzine, a much less well-known however up-and-coming British actor whose efficiency within the film is sort of genuine. And despite the fact that the entire state of affairs is undeniably a shiny high-concept Hollywood fairy story, Showalter offers it sufficient texture that “The Concept of You” comes off extra pure and honest than you’d count on.

The one factor that basically must make excellent sense in a film like “The Concept of You” is the chemistry. The movie, penned by Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt from Robinne Lee’s bestseller, takes its time within the early scenes between Solène and Hayes — first at Coachella, then when he stops by her gallery — permitting their rapport to construct convincingly, and giving every actor loads of time to smolder.

As soon as the steamy hotel-room encounters are available “The Concept of You,” the film has, if not swept you away, then no less than ushered you alongside on a European journey of intercourse and room service. On the identical time, it stays devoted to its central mission of celebrating middle-aged womanhood. The connection will finally trigger a social media firestorm, however its most important stress level is whether or not Solène can follow Hayes after her ex-husband ( Reid Scott ) cheated on her. It is a fairy story she deserves.

Whereas Showalter ( “The Massive Sick” ) has lengthy confirmed a terrific present for juggling comedy and drama directly, “The Concept of You” leans extra totally into wish-fulfillment romance. That may depart much less to maintain the movie, which has notably neutered a few of the issues that distinguished the ebook.

The Might-December romance has been shrunk a bit of. Within the ebook, the singer is 20. Provided that Galitzine is 29 and the 41-year-old Hathaway is nobody’s thought of outdated, that is extra like a July-September relationship. Within the ebook, the daughter (Ella Rubin) is a big admirer of the pop singer, including to the awkwardness, however within the film, August Moon is “so seventh grade” to her.

There are certainly extra fascinating and funnier locations “The Concept of You” might have gone. However Hathaway and Galitzine are a ok match that, for a pair hours, it’s straightforward to overlook.

However essentially the most convincing factor about “The Concept of You”? August Moon. The film nails the look and sound of boy bands so effectively as a result of it went straight to the supply. The unique songs within the movie are by Savan Kotecha and Carl Falk, the producer-songwriters of, amongst different pop hits, “What Makes You Lovely,” One Route’s debut single.

That connection will most likely solely additional the sense that “The Concept of You” may be very practically “The Concept of Harry Types.” The filmmakers have distanced the film from any real-life resemblances. However one factor is for positive: With August Moon following 4(asterisk)City of “Turning Crimson” (whose songs have been penned by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell ), we live within the golden age of the fictional boy band.

“The Concept of You,” an Amazon MGM Studios launch, is rated R by the Movement Image Affiliation for some language and sexual content material. Working time: 115 minutes. Two and a half stars out of 4.