Boyband fans enjoy daydreaming. Rich emotional worlds can be created from ambiguous lyrics that anyone can relate to, and this can lead to wild daydreams that evoke romantic scenarios between strangers or even pop artists themselves (search for “Larry Stylinson” on the internet at your own risk).
This type of fantasy receives a full-length film adaptation in The Idea Of You, which tells the tale of a relationship between the forty-year-old divorced mother of a former fan and the 24-year-old frontman of the fictional boyband August Moon. It doesn’t really matter if the many conjectures about the story’s inspiration, which came from Harry Styles fan fiction, as they are based on Robinne Lee’s 2017 book. What comes out is a perceptive and remarkably cool analysis of celebrity and lust that is only possible in this fervent and critical Extremely Online period.
Few movies get how hate on the internet changes depending on who is viewing it better than this one.
Pop sensation Hayes Campbell is portrayed by Nicholas Galitzine, who has demonstrated his remarkable versatility in films such as Bottoms, Red White & Royal Blue, and Mary & George. Galitzine performs the role with exceptional ease and a beaming smile. Hayes first meets Solène (Anne Hathaway, who masterfully balances contradictory feelings) during the Coachella Festival. Solène is grudgingly accompanied by her daughter, who actually fallen out of love with the band years prior.
The improbable new pair takes one other seriously and handles each other’s feelings with care, drawing to one another like magnets and having a strong chemistry while never realizing the ridiculous scrutiny that will soon follow. The unlikely romance is directed by Michael Showalter, who approached Jessica Chastain’s Oscar-winning film The Eyes of Tammy Faye with the same care (and joy!). He keeps the main couple front and center, making the rest of the band almost invisible, while deftly highlighting the dangers they face.
The movie poses many challenging, intriguing themes regarding desire in the digital age, such as differentiating between a current and nostalgic crush and the stark differences in sensations between 17 and 27 or 37. Few movies, however, comprehend how online hate (and the complexity of stans, or incredibly loyal fans) changes depending on the viewpoint and how quickly celebrity culture and the internet itself evolve. This movie does this better than others.
However, The Idea of You’s audacious conclusion illustrates how thrilling and optimistic this idea may be. It’s the reason why fan fiction as an idea has lasted so long, and why people are always wanting more romantic comedies to root for. There is a universe where the resolution to this tale is sensible but circumspect. However, pop music has always flourished in an environment where you can momentarily believe in your absurd dreams.