‘Anyone But You’ is anything but a flop
In the past few years, romantic comedies have become a dying breed. As a huge rom-com connoisseur, I have been itching to watch a modern love story that makes my stomach tingle with butterflies, and hurt from laughter; the recent film, “Anyone But You,” finally scratched my itch.
Starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, the film centers around a fake relationship between two people who hate each other; it sounds cliché, but the execution was anything but. Admittedly, from the trailers alone I thought it would fail to live up to its social media hype, but I decided to give it a chance before it leaves the cinema.
Sweeney, who plays “Bea” in the romantic comedy, is a headstrong-yet kind-hearted law student who bumps into Powell’s character, “Ben.” The two hit it off after a great first-date, but miscommunication leads to cut ties. Eventually, Bea is reunited with Ben at an intimate wedding in Australia, where they decide to fake being together in order to keep the peace, and make alternative love interests envious.
From the beginning, I related to Bea in many ways as a clumsy, sophisticated college student, who truly has no idea what the future holds. She’s stubborn, she knows what she deserves and she isn’t feeding into anyone else’s ego — a rarity for how women are typically represented in romance films.
On the other hand, Powell delivered a meaty-douchebag-turned-softie persona in just the right way to win hearts. Without his presence, this film would have lacked immensely in the comedy department. The two main characters had undeniable chemistry, but the spark would be nothing without the added humor.
The supporting characters carried the plot along, and tied in more of the comedy aspect when things got serious. The couple to wed, Claudia and Halle were not only a wholesome couple to look up to, but they had the best interests of Ben and Bea at heart. Paired with the in-laws and closest friends, their schemes to pair the disastrous duo together were manipulative, but creative. They also tie in two stereotypical Australians– one who finds a perfect wave to surf more important than the wedding, but the banter and lingo they add to the film cements it as a comedy.
In terms of the film’s videography and soundtrack, both were superb. The scenic backgrounds in Australia were beautiful, and it felt as though we all took a trip on a helicopter (If you know, you know). We were able to see every element within a scene: the eavesdropping, the side conversations, chaotic backgrounds and all. As far as the music, every song was a hit. I felt as though the team stole my Spotify playlist and used it to its potential. Its theme song, “Unwritten,” by Natasha Bedingfield shined light on how the song is loved by all, even cocky Ben.
Throughout the film, the theater laughed, cried, gasped and everything in between. I became so invested in the film, and although the ending was predictable (Spoiler alert: they end up together. I know. I’m just as shocked as you), the actual components within the story were situations I had never seen done before in the film industry, and I’m hoping a sequel is on the horizon.
Write to Mercedes Kauphusman at mercedes.kauphusman@mnsu.edu
Header Photo: Sony Pictures, “Anyone But You,” released Dec. 22 follows characters Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) to a destination wedding in Australia, where they pretend to be a perfect couple in order to keep the peace. (Courtesy What’s On Netflix)