Critics’ reviews

The Idea of You (2024)

24 reviews from 24 publications. Critics’ score 70: 17 positive, 5 mixed, 2 negative.

Back to our review of The Idea of You

70
Positive
17
Mixed
5
Negative
2

Most critics find The Idea of You an engaging, emotionally persuasive romance, with praise clustering around Anne Hathaway’s vulnerable performance and her chemistry with Nicholas Galitzine. The reviews repeatedly credit her with giving the romantic fantasy humour and depth, even when the writing offers less support. Several also welcome its treatment of female desire and relationship double standards.

Reservations centre on thinly drawn characters, contrived plotting and underdeveloped boy-band material, though the verdicts range from enthusiastic to firmly negative. The film’s handling of celebrity divides opinion: Empire finds its account of online hate perceptive, while other reviews want more from the fame-related conflict. Deadline notably questions the central romance’s credibility, preferring the mother-daughter relationship. Sight and Sound offers a stronger dissent, finding the romance flat, saccharine and insincere despite moments of intimacy between the leads. Most critics are more forgiving, finding enough charm in the performances to enjoy the familiar setup.

The AV Club
18 March 2024 · A- · Matthew Jackson
90

The critic calls it one of the best recent romantic comedies, despite a middle section that struggles to find an organic conflict. Anne Hathaway’s vulnerable, emotionally rich performance is singled out for exceptional praise.

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Empire
29 April 2024 · Ella Kemp
85*

The review finds the film intelligent, hopeful, and surprisingly perceptive. It especially praises its nuanced take on online hate and celebrity culture, alongside Hathaway and Galitzine’s chemistry.

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IndieWire
17 March 2024 · B+ · Rafael Motamayor
83

The critic praises the film as a fresh, poignant rom-com and coming-of-age story, with Anne Hathaway delivering a vulnerable, self-assured performance. They criticize the fictional boyband’s lack of convincing superstar charisma.

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Evening Standard
26 April 2024 · ★★★★ · Saskia Kemsley
80

The critic finds this age-gap rom-com surprisingly enjoyable, witty, and emotionally engaging. She praises the electric chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine and the film’s message about relationship double standards.

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Variety
16 March 2024 · festival review · Peter Debruge
78*

Debruge finds the romance engaging and sees Anne Hathaway’s performance as the film’s great strength. He particularly praises the believable chemistry between Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, while noting that the contrived meet-cute is less convincing.

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Slant Magazine
18 March 2024 · ★★★/4 · Rocco T. Thompson
75

The critic finds the film a sensitive, dewy-eyed romance and a strong argument for the romcom genre’s continued vitality. They praise Anne Hathaway’s star-making charm and the emotional connection she shares with Nicholas Galitzine, while noting that the fame-related conflict is underplayed.

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Radio Times
1 May 2024 · Jayne Nelson
70*

Nelson finds the romcom playful and entertaining, despite its failure to deliver on deeper messaging. She singles out the charm of Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine.

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Screen Daily
30 April 2024 · Nikki Baughan
70*

The available text gives a positive verdict on the steamy romcom. It singles out Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine for hitting the right notes.

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The Hollywood Reporter
17 March 2024 · festival review · Lovia Gyarkye
70*

Gyarkye finds the film a carefree, feel-good romantic comedy that works best as a fleeting treat. She praises Anne Hathaway’s humor and depth, while noting that the romance’s conversations grow bland as it progresses.

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The New Yorker
16 May 2024 · Katy Waldman
70*

Waldman finds the film an appealing revival of the rom-com, while arguing that its ideas are less compelling than its emotional wish fulfillment. She singles out Anne Hathaway’s performance and the film’s use of fan culture to turn shame into affirmation.

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Vulture
2 May 2024 · Alison Willmore
70*

Willmore finds the film surprisingly seductive, though it could be more indulgent and its romance is interrupted by reality too soon. She especially praises Anne Hathaway’s lovely, vulnerable performance as a woman reconnecting with desire.

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The Guardian
1 May 2024 · Benjamin Lee
68*

The critic finds it a solid, enjoyable romance that falls short of the genre’s best. Hathaway’s charm and the film’s polished direction stand out, while its dreamily constructed characters lack texture.

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The New York Times
64*

The article body was inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint could be verified.

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Little White Lies
2 May 2024 · 2/3/3 · Hannah Strong
60

Strong finds the rom-com schmaltzy but unexpectedly entertaining, with a sweet charm despite its flaws. She praises the pleasant chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine, while criticizing the dreadful original songs and thinly sketched characters.

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Time Out
1 May 2024 · ★★★ · Phil de Semlyen
60

The review presents the film as a sweet, charming romcom with a throwback feel. It singles out the spark between Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine for praise.

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Total Film
1 May 2024 · ★★ · Neil Smith
40

The critic finds the rom-com glossy but shallow, saying Anne Hathaway must work overtime to give it substance. He singles out its flimsy meet-cute and lightweight, disposable feel as weaknesses.

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Sight and Sound
3 May 2024 · BFI
30*

The review finds the romance flat and overly saccharine, with clichés that leave it feeling insincere and oddly unromantic. It gives some credit to the leads’ moments of intimacy, but says the film’s parallels to a real pop star create an uncanny quality.

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/Film
17 March 2024 · 8 out of 10 · Ryan Scott
89*

The review calls the film a standout rom-com, praising its fresh approach to romance and its believable emotional weight. It especially celebrates Anne Hathaway’s performance and the chemistry she shares with Nicholas Galitzine.

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Paste
29 April 2024 · 8.0/10 · Sage Dunlap
80

The critic finds it an empowering, heartfelt romance that rises above familiar rom-com rhythms. They single out Hathaway and Galitzine’s chemistry and Solène’s character development for praise.

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The Wrap
17 March 2024 · festival review
80*

The critic finds the romance charming, sensual and worth getting swept up in. They especially praise the palpable chemistry between Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine.

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HeyUGuys
75*

The critic finds the film a sunny, timely, and heart-warming romance, though not the year’s best romcom. They praise Anne Hathaway’s vulnerable performance and the film’s feminist outlook, while noting the screenplay leaves Galitzine’s character one-dimensional.

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The Playlist
18 March 2024 · festival review
75*

The headline presents the film as a successful romantic comedy. It singles out Anne Hathaway’s performance for praise.

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Collider
1 May 2024 · 7/10 · Isabella Soares
70

The review finds the rom-com charming, praising the leads’ chemistry and Solène’s compelling coming-of-age journey. It criticizes the film for leaving Hayes and the boy-band elements underdeveloped.

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Deadline
17 March 2024 · festival review · Valerie Complex
55*

Complex finds the rom-com entertaining at times but uneven, overlong, and ultimately a fleeting pleasure. She praises the emotional core of Solene’s relationship with her daughter, while criticizing the less-believable central romance.

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Ordered by the weight we give each publication, then by score. Scores are normalised to 100; * means inferred from an unrated review. Summaries are ours, not quotations; follow the links for the reviews themselves. How we rate