Romantic comedies seem to be striking a chord with audiences once again, with recent releases such as “Anyone But You” amassing a substantial box-office success globally. The rom-com, greatly influenced by Shakespeare, garnered $214.9 million globally. Adding to the resurgence is the new romantic comedy “The Idea of You”, which has already received stellar recognition, beginning with a rating of 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
The Idea of You’s Current Success
“The Idea of You” features Anne Hathaway in the lead role as a 40-year-old single mother who falls for a 24-year-old singer, played by Nicholas Galitzine. The film had its premiere at the South by Southwest Film Festival on March 16 and quickly gained positive reviews. Directed by Michael Showalter, the film has debuted at a 100% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, with its initial high approval drawn from 10 reviews.
In the recent past, the performance of the romantic comedy genre has been lacklustre, as seen with films like “Love Again” which failed to impress audiences and reviewers alike, and “Your Place or Mine” which critics felt had a gap in chemistry between its leads, Ashton Kutcher and Reese Witherspoon. “Shotgun Wedding”, starring Jennifer Lopez and Josh Duhamel, received a mid-range score of 45% on Rotten Tomatoes. The recent success of “The Idea of You” showcases a positive shift in the trajectory of romantic comedies.
Critical Acclaim for The Idea of You
“The Idea of You” has raked in nothing but positive reviews so far. Richard Whittaker of the Austin Chronicle predicted that audiences would be taken by a modern romantic comedy blended with drama and feel-good elements. Whittaker’s specific remark was: “The fact that you’ll care so much proves yet again that Showalter has perfected the modern rom-com.”
Slant Magazine weighed in, giving the film a three-star rating out of four and praising it as one of Anne Hathaway’s strongest performances in recent times. Slant Magazine wrote, “Michael Showalter’s film feels like both a return to form and step forward for Hathaway, who hasn’t lent her mega-watt charisma this successfully to a romcom in at least a decade.”
The Playlist’s Matthew Monagle applauded “The Idea of You” for its excellent adaptation from book to film. He commented: “The Idea of You is an example of the romance novel adaptation done right, an outstanding balance of chemistry and joke density that never talks down to its audience.”
Anticipation for The Film’s Release
“The Idea of You”, based on a book and off to an impressive start with an initial 100% Rotten Tomatoes rating, may become the next streaming hit. The Amazon Prime release date for the romantic comedy is set for May 2nd.
Wrapping Up
The resurgence of romantic comedies is a refreshing change in the entertainment industry. “The Idea of You”, with its stellar initial reviews, seems poised to contribute to this resurgence and prove its mettle upon full release in May. For more engaging updates on new movie releases and reviews, visit HitPlay.
