Film Evaluation: In ‘The Thought of You,’ a boy band is heart stage however Anne Hathaway steals the present
Within the warmly charming rom-com “The Thought of You,” Anne Hathaway performs a 40-year-old divorcee and Silver Lake artwork gallery proprietor who, after taking her teenage daughter to Coachella, turns into romantically concerned with a 24-year-old heartthrob within the boy band August Moon. They first meet after she errors his trailer for the lavatory.
There are a number of hundred issues about this premise that is perhaps farfetched, together with the chances of discovering love wherever close to the porta johns of a music competition. However one among them isn’t {that a} younger star like Hayes Campbell ( Nicholas Galitzine ) would fall for a single mother like Solène (Hathaway).
Solène is fashionable, unimpressed by Hayes’ superstar and has bangs so excellent they give the impression of being genetically modified. And, most significantly, she’s Anne Hathaway. Within the energy dynamics of “The Thought of You,” Hayes could also be a fictional pop star however Hathaway is a really actual film star. And you do not neglect it for a second in Michael Showalter’s frivolously interesting showcase of the actor at her resplendent greatest.
“The Thought of You,” which debuts Thursday on Prime Video, is filled with all of the sorts of contradictions that may make a rom-com work. The extremely glamorous, megawatt-smiling Hathaway is enjoying a down-to-earth no person. The showbiz veteran within the film is performed by Galitzine, a much less well-known however up-and-coming British actor whose efficiency within the film is kind of genuine. And though the entire state of affairs is undeniably a shiny high-concept Hollywood fairy story, Showalter offers it sufficient texture that “The Thought of You” comes off extra pure and honest than you’d count on.
The one factor that actually must make excellent sense in a film like “The Thought of You” is the chemistry. The movie, penned by Showalter and Jennifer Westfeldt from Robinne Lee’s bestseller, takes its time within the early scenes between Solène and Hayes — first at Coachella, then when he stops by her gallery — permitting their rapport to construct convincingly, and giving every actor loads of time to smolder.
As soon as the steamy hotel-room encounters are available in “The Thought of You,” the film has, if not swept you away, then no less than ushered you alongside on a European journey of intercourse and room service. On the identical time, it stays devoted to its central mission of celebrating middle-aged womanhood. The connection will ultimately trigger a social media firestorm, however its predominant strain level is whether or not Solène can stick to Hayes after her ex-husband ( Reid Scott ) cheated on her. This can be a fairy story she deserves.
Whereas Showalter ( “The Huge Sick” ) has lengthy confirmed a fantastic present for juggling comedy and drama directly, “The Thought of You” leans extra absolutely into wish-fulfillment romance. That may depart much less to maintain the movie, which has notably neutered among the issues that distinguished the e-book.
The Could-December romance has been shrunk somewhat. Within the e-book, the singer is 20. On condition that Galitzine is 29 and the 41-year-old Hathaway is nobody’s concept of previous, that is extra like a July-September relationship. Within the e-book, the daughter (Ella Rubin) is a large admirer of the pop singer, including to the awkwardness, however within the film, August Moon is “so seventh grade” to her.
There are certainly extra fascinating and funnier locations “The Thought of You” might have gone. However Hathaway and Galitzine are a ok match that, for a pair hours, it is easy to neglect.
However probably the most convincing factor about “The Thought of You”? August Moon. The film nails the look and sound of boy bands so effectively as a result of it went straight to the supply. The unique songs within the movie are by Savan Kotecha and Carl Falk, the producer-songwriters of, amongst different pop hits, “What Makes You Stunning,” One Course’s debut single.
That connection will most likely solely additional the sense that “The Thought of You” may be very almost “The Thought of Harry Types.” The filmmakers have distanced the film from any real-life resemblances. However one factor is for certain: With August Moon following 4(asterisk)City of “Turning Pink” (whose songs had been penned by Billie Eilish and Finneas O’Connell ), we live within the golden age of the fictional boy band.
“The Thought of You,” an Amazon MGM Studios launch, is rated R by the Movement Image Affiliation for some language and sexual content material. Working time: 115 minutes. Two and a half stars out of 4.
