The idea of you (2024) - A beautiful May - December relationship
I have always enjoyed Nicholas Galitzine's movies from Cinderella to Purple Hearts, but this rom-com hits differently. They both played their roles effortlessly and gracefully. Their first kissing scene gets you glued to your screen as it shows a lot of chemistry between them. That part where she was like "I could be your mother" and he said "But you are not", was so hot that I could visibly be seen blushing.
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The Idea of You is a romantic movie that featured Anne Hathaway who played the role of Soléne. She runs a successful art gallery in Silver Lake and is a beautiful 40-year-old single mother.
Soléne (Anne Hathaway) after being let down by her unfaithful ex-husband, yet again, is forced to cancel her solo hiking trip to take her 16-year-old daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin) and her friends to the August Moon meet and greet in Coachella. This is where she accidentally meets the hot and talented 24-year-old leader of the August Moon boy band, Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine). It was love at first sight, and being a single mom or an older lady didn't change the way he felt about her. Talk about true love.
After a visit to her gallery and some legendary sandwiches at her place, Hayes intentionally leaves his wristwatch at her place. You could read meanings to these kinds of actions (like saying, I will see you again). Soléne uses that as an excuse to visit him and enjoy a hot world touring moment. Initially, she was worried about what people would say, about giving their love a chance. This didn't last long anyway.
They made a May - December relationship look so beautiful. I remember watching this movie with my younger sister and she kept asking if soléne was 40. And that is because she looked hot and beautiful at that age. Although, throughout the movie, their on-and-off relationship is faced with a lot of criticism which is focused mainly on Soléne as Hayes can be seen still touring around the world and receiving so much love and admiration from his female fans. Soléne who at first was able to handle the criticism could no longer withstand it when her daughter gets picked on at school.
This movie demonstrates how people get in the way of true love and also examines several societal issues which include; challenges of Ageism (especially the verbal abuse experienced by older women in a May - December relationship).
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The roles that social media and the paparazzi play in inflaming a situation (especially when celebrities are involved). They would pick on everything they do, including something as simple as their dating and private life. The movie allowed us a glimpse into the realities of balancing motherhood and social life; especially when it has to do with being a single mother.
I hope with this movie, people understand that age shouldn't be a barrier when it comes to finding and experiencing true love. As long as the parties involved are mature and responsible, and respect each other, they should be supported and not criticized at all times. That's the least the society should do.
This movie reminds me of a true-life incident that happened some years back, involving a very popular Nollywood actress and a well-known senator in Nigeria; whose names I wouldn't like to mention here. The actress faced a lot of criticism for getting married to a man old enough to be her father as social media would put it. But as they say, time reveals all, as she now receives a lot of admiration from the same people who at first criticized her.
Back to our movie, towards the end of the movie, soléne is forced to let go of the guy she loves so to protect her only daughter. She gives up her happiness for her daughter. At this point, you can see that the love a mother shows is completely unmatched. She also stops Hayes from giving up on his dreams just to be with her. It was an emotional moment yet beautiful seeing a mother who was willing to suffer heartbreak, just to make sure everyone else was safe.
Imagine if a good number of parents would show such kind of love and sacrifice to their children, especially to their daughters. I am sure that would reduce the number of child marriages that are happening especially in northern Nigeria, where very young girls are forced and given out in marriage to men old enough to be their grandfather due to their parent's greed and quest for material things.
I love this movie, even the background songs. After watching this movie, I can proudly say that I remain a big fan of Nicholas. I enjoyed every scene, plot, and twist. I hope to see more of such beautiful movies. This was certainly not a waste of my movie time.