There was a lot of negative press surrounding Anyone But You when the tabloids began speculating about a possible on-set romance between stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Yes, most of it stemmed from Powell’s breakup with his long-term girlfriend near the end of the shoot.
Yet, we often see what we want to see. It doesn’t hurt that Will Gluck’s film features a pair of movie stars with evident physical appeal, fueling tabloid speculation. Typically, such controversies can sink a film faster than you can say, “Gigli.”
However, Anyone But You has managed to turn the tide with a marketing campaign to calm the waters. This is fortunate because this rom-com shockingly works by being both sexy and funny, with a touch of edge, allowing the audience to enjoy despite knowing exactly how the film will end.
Anyone But You’s Plot Summary and Review
The script from Ilana Wolpert (Newly Single) follows Bea (Sydney Sweeny) and Ben (the endlessly charming Glenn Powell). They find themselves tricked into hanging out at a destination wedding in Australia because Bea’s sister, Halle (Hadley Robinson), is marrying one of Ben’s childhood friends, Claudia (Alexandra Shipp), the sister of his best friend, Pete (played by the American rapper Gata).
The unattached singles have a history of having an incredible first date years prior that soured quickly. However, when Bea’s parents, Leo (Dermot Mulroney) and Innie (Rachel Griffiths), keep attempting to set her up with Jon (Darren Barnet), and Ben wants to make Margaret (Charlee Fraser), they pretend to be the perfect couple for a mutually beneficial bearded relationship.
(Note: The ending has a good chance of being happily ever after when watching a rom-com, and the characters’ initials match strictly for potential monogrammed bath towels.)
Anyone But You is a Sexy and Funny Rom-Com
Anyone But You is directed by Will Gluck (Friends with Benefits), a filmmaker known for making enjoyable, quirky romantic comedies like the new cult classic Easy A, starring Emma Stone and Penn Badgley. (My theory is the latter is Joe from You, and his first victim was Olive off-screen.) His latest film doesn’t hold sixteen candles to that film—however, there’s enough sultry charm and genuine laughs to keep the movie interesting.
Most of the credit should go to the movie’s likable stars, with Sweeney and Powell exhibiting undeniable chemistry. The script by Gluck and Ilana Wolpert does them plenty of favors by defying certain genre tropes and introducing oddly refreshing scenes. For instance, they tackle the “misunderstanding” cliche immediately. Also, embracing those over-the-top moments with a nod, with these scenes are hardly polished and even feel organic.
One memorable scene features Sweeney’s Bea soothing Ben sweetly. Although I believe they mishandled the moment a bit—both sang “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield so poorly that it made the interaction incredibly endearing—inserting of a needle drop in the middle, rather than letting the moment unfold naturally. There’s even a nod at the movie’s end, allowing viewers to overlook some of the plot holes that are (almost) guilt-free.
Is Anyone But You Worth Watching?
Anyone But You is worth watching because of its charismatic leads and well-placed moments of exaggerated situational humor, both quirky and enjoyable. From the after-credits love fest to the infamous spider scene and the adorable koala bear, Anyone But You offers infectious fun.
Yes, Anyone But You has its flaws. As mentioned, it’s predictable, but this predictability is embraced for comedic purposes rather than dramatic impact. My biggest gripe might be that character backstories, mainly Ben’s, introduce elements of significant loss, and certain scenes, like the one involving a “wrench,” come across as pure cornball.
However, Anyone But You serves as a straightforward date movie. It’s designed to divert your attention from troubles and never tries to be anything it’s not, which says something. Mr. Gluck’s film delivers on the formula of mixing in laughs with “fight, f*ck, fight, and romp, repeat,” that’s practically a nostalgic throwback in itself because it’s so comfortable in its own skin.
Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in Anyone But You (2023) | Image Sony Pictures
You can watch Anyone But You now only in theaters.
6/10
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