Loosely based on the Shakespeare play “Much Ado About Nothing”, Anyone But You is a romantic comedy starring Sydney Sweeney (Euphoria) and Glen Powell (Scream Queens) in the leading roles. It is directed by Will Gluck and Sweeney is also an executive producer.
Sweeney plays Bea, a law student who happens to meet charming Ben, played by Powell, in an awkward run-in. Sparks fly between the pair and it’s all going so well – until a misunderstanding quickly turns things sour. A couple of months later they’re reunited and it’s clear neither of them are ready to reconcile. They’re then forced together for a destination wedding in Australia – where the appearance of each other’s exes and meddling from family and friends leads the pair to pretend to be a happy couple. Yet they still can’t stand each other, so how’s that going to work?
The hype for Anyone But You started last summer when footage from the movie circulated on social media. An epic clip of Glen Powell jumping out of a helicopter and running to Sydney Sweeney in front of the Sydney Opera House seemed to confirm what so many have been hoping for: the renaissance of the romantic comedy. Rumours also began to swirl that the main stars of the movie were romantically involved behind the scenes. With so much build up and the expectation that this would be the movie to ‘bring back’ the romcom, how does the film actually measure up?
Sweeney and Powell are certainly strong leads with clear chemistry. They suit the romcom setting with ease and could well be the new go-to for casting directors. Despite some genuinely funny moments between the pair, most of the film’s laughs come from the eccentric and interfering parents. The supporting cast is mostly unfamiliar, with the exception of Alexandra Shipp (Barbie) and Darren Barnet (Never Have I Ever).
The scenery is spectacular (do not encourage anyone thinking of moving to Australia to watch this movie – they’ll be out the back door of the cinema and on the way to the airport). There are epic moments that are the epitome of romance. The plot feels a bit silly at times and it can be hard to keep up with the supporting characters, but this doesn’t intrude too much on the main story.
While it might not be revolutionary, Anyone But You is certainly a lot of fun that will leave you swooning like a hopeless romantic. The romcom might well and truly be back!
