Glen Powell is slowly becoming an interesting actor with the choice of films he is participating in. While he has played pivotal parts in acclaimed films like Everybody Wants Some!!, and Hidden Figures in the 2010s, he became a sensation as Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick. He followed the huge success of that film with the rom-com Anyone But You.
Powell’s sizzling chemistry with Sydney Sweeney was the highlight of the film and audiences throned to theatres to watch the film. The film became a huge hit, signaling the renaissance of rom-coms and audiences’ desire to watch them in theaters. However, some audiences are not impressed with Powell and the present style of rom-coms that are coming out.
Anyone But You Detractors Lament the Current State of Rom-Coms
Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney’s rom-com Anyone But You reinvigorated the rom-com genre and became a huge hit. At a time when franchise films and studio blockbusters are the dominant genre in the industry, the success of Anyone But You proved that audiences want smaller films and especially entertaining rom-coms back in theatres.
While the box office results signal that a large number of people loved the film, others did not enjoy the film as well. As fans debated about Powell and his contribution to the rom-com genre on X, it was certainly divisive with detractors mainly pointing out how the genre has lost the identity and charm it had in the 90s and early 2000s.
They further stated that 90s rom-coms feature leads that are lovable and have an instant charm to them. For example, Hugh Grant‘s Notting Hill, Love Actually; Billy Crystal’s When Harry Met Sally; and Nancy Meyers’ rom-coms. They contrasted that with today’s rom-coms, where the leads are dudes with jacked bodies mixed with a narrative involving forced slapstick comedy. Here are some of the reactions on X,
rom coms used to have bumbling, earnest leads who were so pathetically in love they said things like 'you are lovelier today than you have ever been'. they used to start with julia roberts fancams and have beautiful, bluesy soundtracks.
all we have now is glen powell. https://t.co/ngO7PTDW2t
— ayan. (@artan_ayan) April 7, 2024
I agree 100% about the writing; we don't get to see great writers flex or see them invested in by these studios. We had Nora Ephron writing them in the 90s but I do disagree about the Powell point. Actors either have charisma or they don't; Powell doesn't to me.
— ayan. (@artan_ayan) April 7, 2024
Was just thinking this as I watched Anyone but you LN. wasn’t great! Powell was pretty good in the Set Up, but yeah give me Horse and Hound all day every day
— Mr8thMan (@necnep18) April 8, 2024
we have lost soooo bad
— ʚĭɞ F (@fcrnandam) April 8, 2024
They’ll come back I keep hope alive everyday
— MATTHEW (@imparrain) April 8, 2024
Watching romcoms from the 90's – 2000's is bittersweet cause they're all so good and it's depressing that it's pretty much an extinct genre. We have to bring back mid-budgets. So tired of the nostalgia circle jerking and CGI bores
— L (@ctrl_liv) April 8, 2024
There have been gems in recent years like Love at First Sight, Powell’s Set It Up, and The Big Sick which reminds one of the sweet rom-coms of the early 2000s. However, the cliche, slapstick-style rom-coms that audiences are complaining about continue to come out, and Anyone But You falls into that category for some people.
Richard Linklater Was Impressed With The Leads Of His New Film Hit Man
Richard Linklater and Glen Powell are reuniting for the upcoming romantic action comedy Hit Man. The film chronicles the story of an undercover cop trying to save a woman while posing as a dangerous hitman. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the director talked about how the project came to be and working with Glen Powell and Adria Arjona as the film’s leads.
Linklater stated that while he knew Powell from before, having worked together on Fast Food Nation and Everybody Wants Some!!, it was his first time working with Arjona. He was very much impressed with their dedication and the instant connection they developed that made it very fun to watch. Linklater said,
“Oh man, thank you. I agree. Of course, I’ve known Glen for a while, but I didn’t really know Adria before this. She came in and was just fantastic to work with. I really felt those two were just off to the races from the jump together. It was really fun to watch.”
Hit Man will hit Netflix on June 7, 2024. Powell has a theatrical release which is Twisters, a standalone sequel to 1996’s Twister. In addition to Powell, the film also stars Daisy Edgar-Jones, and Anthony Ramos, Maura Tierney, Brandon Perea, Daryl McCormack, Sasha Lane, Kiernan Shipka. It will hit theatres on July 19, 2024.
