This love story could have been very cheesy, but it’s not, thanks to Anne Hathaway, who is better than ever. With direction from Michael Showalter, no stranger to romcoms, she keeps it real. Written by Showalter (The Big Sick), Robin Lee and Jennifer Westfeldt, this is thought to have been inspired by a real May December romance of a boy band heartthrob and a show biz female 10 years his senior.
Solène (Hathaway) is the divorced mother of college girl Izzy (Ella Rubin) who plays her young teenage daughter. Izzy who was supposed to go with her father, Solène’s ex (Reid Scott) and his new wife to Coachella to see her favorite boy band, August Moon. But when her father cops out, Solène is cajoled into being the designated chaperone.
A chance meeting in the wrong trailer puts her in front of the 24-year-old lead singer of the band, Hayes Campbell, (British actor Nicholas Galitzine) and some awkward sparks fly. They have a conversation and it becomes evident that he’s interested. She is coy, contending with long dormant feelings. On stage, he catches her eye and and sings a song directly at Solène, with her name in it, and she broadcasts her thousand-watt smile of approval. Even her daughter seems happy about the connection.
After Coachella, he’s obviously captivated and shows up at her gallery, buying everything in it for his flat in London. Having nothing left to sell and having dropped off her daughter at camp for the summer, the relationship literally takes off when Hayes invites Mom to go with him on the band’s tour. She finds out, first hand, what life is like for this famous guy to be chased and recognized ad infinitum and how they both have to deal with it.
Galitzine is convincing as the famous lead of a boy band. He’s cute enough, although somewhat dorky. We think the costumer could have made his outfits a little more interesting. Galitzine isn’t the greatest singer, but he’s got the romance down.
There are some nice romantic moments and torrid kisses leading to sexy love scenes as Hayes genuinely shows how much he loves being with her and she, the same. Of course, complications arise when some of the young women in the band’s entourage get bitchy about the relationship teasing that he’s put many girl’s names in the same song he sang to her so many times before. Outraged, Solène beats a speedy path home.
Showalter has poor Hayes taking after Taylor Swift’s playbook writing songs about his personal heartache. The film’s songs, by several artists, include some sung by Galitzine. They aren’t terribly memorable, but they fill the bill.
Of course there are other complications with her ex-husband and his new wife, but kudos to Showalter for making Izzy a loyal daughter to both parents. Ella Rubin is very good in this film. She and Hathaway even look alike. And it was nice to see a Mom-daughter relationship that was supportive for a change.
Director Michael Showalter assembled a good cast and paces the film well. Hathaway is a standout, looking better than ever, seeming more comfortable and confident in a film that might have been less convincing without her. Galitzine may play the heartthrob but Hathaway is the real heart of this romcom.
Amazon Studios 1 hour 55 minutes. R
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