User Reviews

I saw this last night at the Atlanta Film Festival alongside a friend who is also in her 40s. We went into it calling it "the Harry Styles fanfiction movie" and knowing it was going to be a bit of a fantastical and sexy romp, but we both agreed at the end that we were surprised at how emotional we got watching it. I guess I shouldn't actually be surprised at this knowing that Jennifer Westfeldt was one of the writers, since I'm a huge fan of how she portrays women and relationships. (Kissing Jessica Stein is one of my major cultural touchstone movies.) I'm also a big Michael Showalter fan, but had never really associated him with telling this kind of story before. He gave a Director Q&A after, and I really appreciated hearing him talk about the process of making this, especially with regards to not making Hayes or the idea of being in a boy band a "joke" or something to poke fun at.

The best part of this movie is the fact that it shows something we rarely see on screen: the idea of a woman in her 40s being found intriguing, sexy, and desirable, and the object of pursuit by a younger, attractive man. The way that it achieves this is nothing new to movies - love at first sight, Solene being the only woman he can think about, and that she stirred something in him that no one else can. This is a common mechanism in female fanastical romances (see also: Fifty Shades of Grey) because, well, it's one of the biggest fantasies we all have, especially for heterosexual women. (Let's hope that it doesn't spawn an epidemic of middle-aged women "accidentally" breaking into band trailers at music festivals.) But it does, at its core, speak to a fantasy that anyone who wants to be loved has: that we will be seen for who we are, not for our familial or life situation, the wrinkles on our face, or the birthdate on our driver's license.

The other unique thing that the movie portrays is the idea of men being emotionally vulnerable. The way that you see Hayes falling for Solene and expressing his feelings about her is not something you see very often with male leads. Again, this may be a bit of a heterosexual female fantasy, but I think it comes at a time when society is beginning to be more accepting and understanding of the need for men to be able to express their emotions. If you want to know why so many women love The Notebook (another fantastical romance), think about how you see Ryan Gosling's character show just how emotionally attached he is to Rachel McAdams's character. You don't see this in that many movies, but when you do, there's a very good chance that women love it.

The film also makes good points about the hypocrisy of society with how Hayes and Solene's relationship is treated, how no one bats an eyelash when male celebrities date women 10, 20, even 50 years younger than they are (ahem, Robert De Niro and Al Pacino), but the idea of a woman dating a younger man is scandalous. This is a point made by Annie Mumolo, who I always love to see on screen, but who is regrettably underutilized here as the best friend character. There is definitely a feminist undercurrent to the movie, including some really cute lines made by Solene's daughter, but it's doesn't hit you over the head with it.

Although there are some areas I would've liked to have been handled better, such as the scene where there's tension with the other band members, overall it's a sweet and emotional movie that gives us something I think all women would agree that we want: recognition that we are more than just our age.

Anne and Nicholas both had great acting. Worth the watch if you liked movies like Fifty Shades, and rom coms. However, i do think it was rushed, and not that much plot besides a boy in a boyband, and a girl who sells art. The romance scenes are good, but it's very fast paced. I wouldn't expect much better than most romance flicks, but the music played is good. I thought it was kinda weird for her to be 40 and him to be 20, and that be the basis of it, i'm not sure what they were trying to do with that as Anne and Nicholas look about the same age and you don't really think of that the whole movie. Not a waste of time movie, try it, you might like it. Critic Review is accurate in my opinion.

My wife and I watched this movie on its first day of streaming on Prime. We expected it to be a lightweight but entertaining rom-com but we were completely wrong. It is much more than that. It examines a number of societal issues, including:

The verbal abuse an older woman takes if she dates a much younger man.

The role of paparazzi and social media in inflaming a situation.

The realities of balancing motherhood and social life.

It also plays on one of my favorite themes, the reality of random events determining our direction in life. Anne Hathaway is Solène, a divorced woman just turning 40. She owns an art gallery, she also has a teenage daughter. One day as her ex-husband is about to take the daughter and friends to Coachella he pulls out due to business in Houston, Solène fills in. In another random, accidental incident she goes into the trailer of a well-known, 24-yr-old entertainer, thinking it was the restroom, and meets him.

Nicholas Galitzine, British actor, plays the young entertainer, Hayes. He is a member of a boy band and takes an immediate liking to Solène. Her first reaction is "I am too old for you." His reaction is "I don't care."

This is a well-done movie, the situations and dialog are interesting, the sound track is very good.

Take the 2023 Jennifer Lopez film Marry Me, mix it with the 1999 Julia Roberts film Notting Hill, and you get this movie basically.

Good for what it is. But, why do people have to go and make things so complicated, in the words of Avril Lavigne?

This movie was pleasant, but also frustrating because the female character was too hung up on her age and what other people thought. Meanwhile, she had a literal Prince charming they're waiting for her, time and time again. All that precious time wasted, worrying over nothing.

If anything, this movie demonstrates why people shouldn't let anything get in the way of true love, how silly it is to do so.

This is honestly just an average movie. I really dont see why it would be hyped up but I also dont understand the very negative reviews.

There was nothing necessarily wrong with the movie. I personally did feel some chemistry between them but it was also awkward.

I think the age gap should have been less of an issue especially in this day and age but I guess it speaks to the power of social media and everyone thinking they have a say about everything.

Ann Hathaway looks good (although a little too thin) but I think that's why it worked because she did not look her age in the traditional sense.

This is not a movie I would recommend to anyone but it was a decent way to spend two hours of down time.

I am not going to pick apart every detail of this movie. I haven't read the book. I'm not a huge Anne Hathaway fan. But I loved every moment of this movie and how it made me feel. I felt like I was on a holiday from life - I'm not a mother and I'm not yet 40, but I see so many of us living a mundane life, putting ourselves second whether it's for careers or children, and so the excitement of being caught up in the most unexpected fantasy romance is really awakening. I think the lead actors had impeccable chemistry, I enjoyed every little nuance of body language and dialogue (which of course, cannot be perfect, real life isn't perfect!). I will watch this again - thank you for making it!

I could not stop comparing it to the book/audio book!

The good stuff: Nicholas Galitzine sang beautifully, the music was awesome! Guard down and Closer were 2 of my favorites, although I wish there was a "7 minutes" or "S" , from the original story.

It was quite funny, especially because the book does not really have a romcom vibe, so that was a nice surprise.

And as everyone says, the chemistry between Hayes and Solene was there.

The ending was satisfying, hopeful

The not so good stuff: I'm not sure Anne was the best casting for Solene unfortunately, despite popular opinion.

There were changes ( of course as in any book to film adaptation) to the original story that took away from the original characters, and I felt it was unnecessary.

This did not need to be Rated R, it is nowhere near as steamy as the book, in terms of graphic sexuality or nudity.

I **love** both of these main character actors -- Anne Hathaway is an inextricable part of my youth and Nicholas Galitzine is an wonderfully talented actor and singer -- and the book/audiobook was wonderful and touching. Unfortunately, this movie has gutted everything about the story and all of these characters that created any kind of emotional impact. I'm so, so very sad about what they've done to this book. It seems as though perhaps the depth of the story would have been better suited to a series so the true emotionality of the characters could have been appropriately explored and developed.

Best new movie I've seen in years! Anne Hathaway is just incredible. She took what could have been a cheesy movie and made it something so nuanced. I swear I can tell what her character is thinking. I literally both laughed out loud at the little jokes (not over done at all) and cried tears of sadness and joy. I have never had a designated "feel good" movie but now I do. Also shout out to that detergent brand All or whatever for making the movie free without ads. THAT makes me want to buy. The world needs just HAPPY movies!

When I tell you the movie was so good I made this account just to write the review. I have NEVER reviewed a movie. It was just perfect.

The film resonated personally with me as it delved into the complexities of age-related relationships, striking a chord with how societal judgments can shape our experiences and influence our loved ones. Anne Hathaway's performance, as always, was captivating, effortlessly embodying the nuances of her character. Her portrayal added depth to the narrative, earning a solid 7 out of 10 for her remarkable portrayal and the overall execution of the storyline. The cinematography beautifully captured the essence of the narrative, enhancing the viewing experience. The production design recreated the world of the characters, immersing the audience in their reality. Moreover, the emotional impact was profound, leaving a lasting impression on the viewer. Overall, Hathaway's adept performance, coupled with the engaging plot, stunning visuals, and emotional resonance, resulted in a thoroughly enjoyable cinematic experience, deserving of its commendable rating.

Oh dear. Absolutely no chemistry between the two main characters. The lead female Solene, apart from the absurd name is totally unrelatable or endearing. She acts like his teacher, or mother "I'll make you a sandwich?!" When she talks about herself he's uncomfortably interested, uncomfortable because it's not believable. The art they show in the gallery and warehouse are pretentious and boring, a lot like Solene.

I'm surprised at the positive reviews.

It's mildly entertaining - a background movie for when you're building Lego for example. But I couldn't take the pairing seriously. Maybe I'm feeling the uncomfortable atmosphere that potentially could have been on set that I'm picking up on? I dunno. It could've been so much better with a different female lead.

I was skeptical at first and thought I would like this movie because it is fanfiction, but I was proven wrong. It suprised me in a good way.

Anne was amazing in portrayal of Solène the role really suits her. Nicholas did a satisfactory job with singing I wish songs where more catchy so that they can be popular and after movie.

There is such great chemistry between Anne and Nicholas which is so important for this kind of movie. I really enjoyed watching their scenes.

Also I really like how they showed the difference in people's reactions when they saw her as a woman dating a younger man versus her ex-husband dating a younger woman.

I usually watch foreign, art house movies about, say, Finnish reindeer herders during the Russian-Finnish War in 1939. And I'll look at the IMDB user reviews and invariably a few will be about how slow and boring it all was. And I'll think, What did they expect? Titanic? So yeah, this film is predictable and unimaginative and without any real drama and with cliche characters. But so what? That's what I had expected. The two leads are attractive and rather charming. They're good together and there's some chemistry, and the film doesn't get too silly. So go ahead and watch it if you want to pass a little time with something harmless. Just don't expect too much.

Anne Hathaway plays Solene, a newly divorced art gallery owner who meets Hayes, a much younger than her musician played by Nicholas Galitzine. They embark upon a destined-to-fail romance.

Firstly this is pure formula. Girl meets boy, thinks about it. Falls for him, they split, they get back together, they split again, they get back together again, they split again. This ridiculous formula is so tedious and worn and it drives me nuts.

However there was a saving grace in that the story deals with an older woman and a younger man and what that can do to a family. Solene's ex husband is angry, her daughter is upset, the internet is in a frenzy and Solene cant cope with it all. It reminds me of the circus that came to town when Harry Styles started dating Olivia Wilde. It's as if as an intelligent species we cant cope with two people falling in love if there is a 10 year age difference. And yet there was Celine Dion... There's also a message in there about intrusive press. The press have to get a story to sell newspapers, but why do they pursue something as simple as two people dating? The celebrity mania in this world is insane and although the film is scripted, it is precisely how the internet and news outlets react when they sense something. Taking pictures of two people surreptitiously in order to sell papers should be illegal. It is often the press that drives anger and upset about things.

And that's a subtext of this film: the press. We are only scared of crime because the press alert us to each and every crime that happens, sensationalising it to make sure we read it. We are only terrorised by terrorists because the press bring us detailed stories of their atrocities and bombard us with pictures of horror. The press act indignant and shocked because 2 adults fell in love, and they drive people to jump on the bandwagon, ensuring that more papers are sold and more clicks registered. Perhaps it's time to take a long hard look at the press, and what they do, and how they negatively influence life and people.

There's all that and more in this film so although I am not a Hathaway fan, I did very much enjoy the story. I gave it a 7.

Greetings again from the darkness. You'd be forgiven, and I ask for that same forgiveness, if a cringey look of pain comes across the face every time a new Rom-Com is announced. Most in this genre are filled with lame dialogue and absurd love connections. Cautious hope springs when writer-director Michael Showalter (THE BIG SICK, 2017) and co-writer Jennifer Westfeldt (FRIENDS WITH KIDS, 2017) adapt the 2017 novel by Robinne Lee. Mr. Showalter, especially, has proven his approach leans into sensitivity, rather than over-cooked romanticism.

Oscar winner Anne Hathaway stars as Solene, a recently divorced mother celebrating her 40th birthday. She owns an art gallery in ultra-hip Silver Lake, and has a close relationship with her teenage daughter Izzy (Ella Rubin). When her ex (Reid Scott) breaks yet another commitment, Solene agrees to take Solene and her friends to the Coachella Music Festival. The meet-cute occurs as Solene searches for a bathroom and ends up meeting Hayes Campbell (Nicholas Galitzine), a 24-year-old pop star who performs with a popular boy band called August Moon.

The two make goo-goo eyes at each other, and after Hayes sings a song just for Solene, a whirlwind romance begins ... against all the good judgment she can muster. Great sandwiches, art purchases, and a pricey watch left behind all play a role in the development of this relationship. Soon, Solene is dropping Izzy at Summer Camp and hopping a private jet to join Hayes (a Harry Styles stand-in) for the European leg of August Moon's tour. It's all a bit predictable and expected, however Hathaway and Galitzine are strong enough to prevent the film from sinking into muck.

As you would guess, fame and celebrity are not an easy adjustment for a grounded single mom, no matter how much she enjoys the May-December benefits. Contrary to what we hear these days, going viral is not for everyone, and the complications are almost too much for Solene. To his credit, Hayes is not a typical twenty-something icon, and he works to figure out a relationship infinitely more complex than the nightly groupies that surround him and his bandmates.

Many will dwell on the age discrepancy between Solene and Hayes, but what elevates this one is the reality of the choices faced by parents - their own fun versus what's best for their children. Being called Yoko 2.0 is a brilliant take by the writer, but it's a painful moment for an good-hearted mom. Of course, some of the dialogue here does qualify as rom-com drivel, and the him vs her lipstick battles are distracting, but for the most part, the actors and Showalter keep us interested in the human aspects of a tangled web.

Begins streaming on Prime Video on May 2, 2024.

Anne Hathaway's talent as an actress is undeniable, which is why I was slightly disappointed to see her in this particular movie. However, I appreciate the message the film aims to convey and I'm glad it was made.

Contrary to some opinions, I believe the lead actors deliver strong performances and share a convincing on-screen chemistry. While younger audiences may find it challenging to connect with the movie, I feel that as one grows older and gains more life experience, the film's themes become more relatable.

I'm surprised by the harsh reviews, as I think some people need to recognize that this movie is a fantasy and isn't meant to accurately depict the real-life challenges of relationships. That's perfectly acceptable to me, as movies are created to entertain and provide an escape from the daily difficulties we face. It's unrealistic to expect every film to mirror reality in all aspects.

In conclusion, if you're seeking a realistic portrayal, this movie may not be for you. However, if you're in the mood for a charming and escapist film featuring commendable performances from the lead actors, then this movie will suffice. It was certainly enjoyable enough for me to watch on a lazy afternoon with a glass of wine, and it served its purpose well.

I don't care that that sounds cheesy or you might think it's overrated. As a 40 year old women myself, I thoroughly enjoyed this! Loved the romcom vibe (although romcom doesn't do it justice, more just a heartfelt story), it made my heart so happy and brought me back to the old days and realised, with all the content coming out, that I haven't enjoyed a movie like this in a long time. Anne is wonderful, she displays emotions so well without it being overdone or unbelievable. I was moved by her and her performance. Nicholas was great too, it all felt very natural and easy. And maybe that's why I loved it so much, I mean that first kiss scene was epic! Man, talking about chemistry! And a real kiss! I loved that the story was really about the two main characters and their chemistry and the natural execution of it sucked me to the screen. And there does not need to be much happening, because these two carried the film. It made my heart happy, I felt giddy, emotional, it's sexy, it made me laugh here and there, I mean what more could you ask for?! The same ingredients could be in any movie and I still could not feel anything. And then there is this one, which it just works. It made me feel it, believe it and I love it when a movie does that.

40 y/o soccer mom goes to a festival, meets, pulls, and falls in love with a member of a top boy band. Sounds implausible, but "Implausible" is by no means a bad thing.

I should blame Amazon, as it was they who advertised this as a comedy-drama, but it's in reality (in part at least) a fairly standard and deja vu chick flick. There's a dearth of laugh out loud moments, and when an overdue story arc does hit a turning point, it makes sense, but there is a slight lack of oomph.

I've long thought of Anne Hathaway as being short of a top drawer actress, but sadly it looks as though this is her level these days. At times, her efforts to convey some emotion look a little constipated.

Overall, although I've given it as many marks as I honestly can, and they're not outstanding, this film is still a keeper. If it can hold my attention for the better part of 2 hours, it can do the same for you, but it suffers from being a film of two halves. Goofy at first, deeper and more meaningful later on, and ending a little anticlimactically.

And therein lines the issue. It doesn't matter what side this film picked, whether a goofy chick flick, or a Sunday afternoon Hallmark offering, or a serious critique of celebrity culture and online harassment, as long as it picked one. If it had planted its flag somewhere definite in the sand, it'd have potentially got a lot more marks.

There was nothing wrong with the acting but movie didn't make me feel anything.

But there was something missing in the plot, i tried fast forward it about 30 minutes and i could still understand what was going on so easily.

I turned it back to begging and watched it of course but my point is that the scenario opens so slowly and a rom-com should be a little more fun to watch. I was almost bored.

It's not catchy, it doesn't hook you to itself at the minutes a romcom should.

Paper thin plot, no emotions just a 40+ years old woman getting what she forgot and reminiscing her young days i guess ?!

A lot of comments here are about the age difference because she is a woman and he is a man. If the ages were reversed, like most Hollywood movies, it would seem normal. I found the movie to be a beautiful little love story between two people. Take away the ages and there is definitely a chemistry between the two. Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively are 11 years apart and no one blinked. A lot of Hollywood actors have very young love interests. Think about James Bond or every Tom Cruise female lead. It's ok for them. And yes I still cringe at Decaprio. There is a line. I also laughed I cried and enjoyed it very much. Good going Anne. We need more movies like this.

The guy doesnt fit the role of being in a boyband. I found the songs and performances corny and it felt awkward to watch him doing what pop stars in a boyband commonly do. It might have been better if he were a solo artist. Anne Hathaway, on the other hand is beautiful and timeless as always and I love her so I watched this. Not my type of movie though. I had to watch it in two days because I really wasnt digging the boyband thing. It's corny. Also, for a love story, my heart didnt flutter at all. I didnt feel any chemistry between the guy and Anne. But my heart did break when Anne was constantly being attacked on tabloids and social media and when people started invading her space. That is the only reason why I gave his movie 6 stars. It showed how cruel people can be. But other than that, the romance part, the guy's role, and the plot were all cliche. Like anyone who's just starting to develop a hobby to write could've thought of this.

What was Anne H thinking when she accepted this project? She being a serious actress and done high quality movies, this seems like she went on a crisis. The concert scenes are extremely boring and except for the moment they met, the interactions between both are very forced and fake. The idea of the plot could have been a great one if they had taken out the pop star piece and ridiculous paparazzi scenes. They could have done a very deep emotional and smart story of romance between two normal people and it would have been worth watching or even recommended. Both actors are very good so is a pity they accepted this terrible bad movie. Don't waste your time.