--- title: "The Idea of You: the reviews" canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-idea-of-you/reviews" title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-idea-of-you" critics_score: 70 critics_reviews: 24 licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL." --- # The Idea of You (2024): what the critics said Critics' score 70 from 24 reviews: 17 positive, 5 mixed, 2 negative. 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 — Matthew Jackson Rating A-. 18 March 2024. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.avclub.com/the-idea-of-you-movie-review-anne-hathaway-1851343653) ## Empire — Ella Kemp Fi1m's normalised score 85/100 (inferred from the text). 29 April 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/the-idea-of-you/) ## IndieWire — Rafael Motamayor Rating B+. 17 March 2024. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.indiewire.com/criticism/movies/the-idea-of-you-review-1234965268/) ## Evening Standard — Saskia Kemsley Rating 4/5. 26 April 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/film/the-idea-of-you-review-anne-hathaway-nicholas-galitzine-b1153677.html) ## Variety — Peter Debruge Fi1m's normalised score 78/100 (inferred from the text). 16 March 2024. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://variety.com/2024/film/reviews/the-idea-of-you-review-anne-hathaway-nicholas-galitzine-1235943836/) ## Slant Magazine — Rocco T. Thompson Rating 3/4. 18 March 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slantmagazine.com/film/the-idea-of-you-review-anne-hathaway-nicholas-galitzine/) ## Radio Times — Jayne Nelson Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/the-idea-of-you-review/) ## Screen Daily — Nikki Baughan Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 30 April 2024. The available text gives a positive verdict on the steamy romcom. It singles out Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine for hitting the right notes. [Read the review](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/the-idea-of-you-review/5192858.article) ## The Hollywood Reporter — Lovia Gyarkye Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2024. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/the-idea-of-you-review-anne-hathaway-michael-showalter-1235852525/) ## The New Yorker — Katy Waldman Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 16 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cultural-comment/the-idea-of-you-and-the-notion-of-the-hot-mom) ## Vulture — Alison Willmore Fi1m's normalised score 70/100 (inferred from the text). 2 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.vulture.com/article/the-idea-of-you-review-a-mostly-not-guilty-pleasure.html) ## The Guardian — Benjamin Lee Fi1m's normalised score 68/100 (inferred from the text). 1 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2024/may/01/the-idea-of-you-review-anne-hathaway) ## The New York Times Fi1m's normalised score 64/100 (inferred from the text). The article body was inaccessible, so the critic’s verdict cannot be established. No specific praise or complaint could be verified. [Read the review](https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/02/movies/the-idea-of-you-review.html) ## Little White Lies — Hannah Strong Rating 2/3/3. 2 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://lwlies.com/reviews/the-idea-of-you) ## Time Out — Phil de Semlyen Rating 3/5. 1 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.timeout.com/movies/the-idea-of-you-review-2024) ## Total Film — Neil Smith Rating 2/5. 1 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.gamesradar.com/the-idea-of-you-review/) ## Sight and Sound — BFI Fi1m's normalised score 30/100 (inferred from the text). 3 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.bfi.org.uk/sight-and-sound/reviews/idea-you-pop-star-romance-has-strangely-inhuman-quality) ## /Film — Ryan Scott Rating 8 out of 10. 17 March 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.slashfilm.com/1541497/the-idea-of-you-review-anne-hathaway-review-sxsw-2024/) ## Paste — Sage Dunlap Rating 8.0/10. 29 April 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://www.pastemagazine.com/movies/anne-hathaway/the-idea-of-you-review) ## The Wrap Fi1m's normalised score 80/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2024. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://www.thewrap.com/anne-hathaway-the-idea-of-you-review/) ## HeyUGuys Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 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. [Read the review](https://www.heyuguys.com/the-idea-of-you-review/) ## The Playlist Fi1m's normalised score 75/100 (inferred from the text). 18 March 2024. Festival review. The headline presents the film as a successful romantic comedy. It singles out Anne Hathaway’s performance for praise. [Read the review](https://theplaylist.net/the-idea-of-you-review-anne-hathaway-shines-in-this-romantic-comedy-done-right-sxsw-20240318/) ## Collider — Isabella Soares Rating 7/10. 1 May 2024. 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. [Read the review](https://collider.com/the-idea-of-you-review/) ## Deadline — Valerie Complex Fi1m's normalised score 55/100 (inferred from the text). 17 March 2024. Festival review. 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. [Read the review](https://deadline.com/2024/03/the-idea-of-you-review-anne-hathaway-anchors-michael-showalters-story-unconventional-romance-sxsw-1235860679/) --- © Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-idea-of-you.md