Mom and I recently watched a a romantic comedy starring Ann Hathaway, Nicholas Galitzine, and Ella Rubin, among others. Based on a novel by Robinne Lee, the film was a delightful flick about a 40-year-old single mother who, through a series of unexpected events, becomes involved with a 24-year-old boy band star. Her daughter is 16.
On a basic level, the movie was sweet, sometimes sad, sometimes funny. Refreshingly, there were few curse words and sexual innuendoes were suggested and limited. The film was a nice reprieve from the many dark movies now on the market. Finding a movie that can be understood and enjoyed by a 95-year-old with mild dementia and a 70-year-old who is trying to fill an evening while confined to quarters is a challenge. Especially when almost every night a movie is entertainment.
The story weaves the lives of a divorced mother of a teenager whose father (and his girlfriend) is still in the picture, the coming-of-age girl, and the challenges of a hot rock star. It highlights the various tribulations caused by living a modern life — the indignant father who himself had cheated on his wife, the daughter who is supportive until her friends at school begin making snide remarks, and the rock star who has trouble trusting someone’s intentions.
A disappointing twist (not from the picture but from the way people react) was highlighted when all kinds of people expressed their judgmental opinions as to the morals of the mother. Why do we in society find acceptable a man who dates or marries at woman 20 years younger yet when a woman dates a man sixteen years younger, she is labeled with various negative descriptors? The idea highlights continued gender and age-related injustices. Personally, I appreciated the film broaching this issue. I believe each of us has our own challenges in life and we are not aware of anyone else’s situation. Therefore, let us not judge others.
All-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed viewing the film for the social issues raised, yet more importantly for the sheer pleasure of the story line. The Idea of You is available on Prime Video. Enjoy!
Cynthia
Silver Sage Sisters 