"The Idea of You" is one of the most anticipated movies of the year. So when it finally hits theaters on May 2, there will always be discussions about every little detail, from Nicholas Galitzin and Anne Hathaway's magnetic chemistry, to One Direction comparisons, to this movie To what extent it is faithful to the 2017 novel it is adapted from.
If you've seen the movie and read Robinne Lee's book, you know that most of the same beats play out on the page and screen. However, there are some key changes, and the ending of the book "On Your Mind" is different from the movie.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of the surprising ways “A Thought About You” departs from its source material. Of course, there are spoilers for both!
Hayes and Solena's relationship
Like the film, Lee's book begins with a chance encounter between single mother and gallerist Solène Marchand and Hayes Campbell, singer of the British boy band August Moon. However, in the book, this happens when Solena accompanies her daughter Isabelle to a concert, while in the movie, as Hathaway tells Jimmy Fallon, they attend a music festival together, while Solena's daughter actually no longer loves the band. .
Another adjustment is the age gap between the couple. In the novel, Solena is 39 and Hayes is 20, but on screen they are 40 and 24 respectively.
The book's devastating conclusion
Hayes and Solena's relationship continues to evolve throughout the book. But it also encountered some obstacles, such as disturbing hate mail from angry fans and ridicule that began to affect Isabelle. Eventually, Solena ended her relationship with Hayes, citing their incompatible lifestyles. They are reunited again. Hayes said he quit the band, but Solena decided it was too costly for their relationship.
She lies that she never really loved him ("Maybe that's what you were thinking," she says) to make sure he gets it this time. Hayes eventually returned to the band and continued lending a hand, but stopped after a while.
Why movies behave differently
If you've seen "Ideal You," you know that it does have a similarly heartbreaking breakup scene. But unlike the original, the film ends with a look ahead five years later, with Hayes revealing on The Graham Norton Show that he will be taking a break from touring and looking forward to meeting someone special in Los Angeles. Eventually, he walks into Solena's gallery and she is delighted to see him. Now it seems that the timing is just right.
Director Michael Showalter told the Radio Times that he wanted to create a "hopeful ending" more in line with the romantic comedy genre. "So we certainly could have ended the movie in a different way," he said. "But for this story, we felt a more uplifting ending would be most satisfying for audiences."
Likewise, producer Cathy Schulman told the outlet that the team wanted to capture the "mood and underlying spirit" of the story - and Hathaway herself told The New York Times that the film is "about a woman's healing story." ". So it definitely makes sense that Prime Video's The Idea of You puts a positive spin on things.
