Romantic comedies (rom-coms) are returning to the theaters in electric fashion. On December 22, 2023, Anyone but You directed by Will Gluck was released and caught the world’s attention. After a long-awaited release, rom-com fans worldwide got what they wanted when this film exceeded their expectations and set the bar high for future rom-coms to come.
Based on a William Shakespeare play, Much Ado About Nothing, the movie took audience members on a love journey with many unexpected twists and turns. Starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell, Anyone but You has defined what true love means.
What looks like a perfect couple and a perfect first date, leads to a quick turn of events. After a long time spent away from each other, characters Bea (played by Sweeney) and Ben (played by Powell) unexpectedly meet again at a destination wedding in Australia. Compared to the first time they met, this time was full of hatred and revenge for both. Through many acts of immaturity and eventually pretending to be a couple, the two begin to express their feelings to each other.
Sweeney’s role as Bea in the movie attracts many fans through her looks, fiery personality, and many laughs she brings to the audience. In many scenes, you can find Sweeney being very flirtatious even while faking a relationship, and fighting with Powell constantly.
Powell gains attraction through his looks as well, but also through his humorous personality and soft spot towards Bea. Ben is seen making many sarcastic jokes throughout the film, while also making his feelings towards Bea evident.
“When I found out Ben was afraid of heights and had to sing his serenity song to get through it, he instantly became my favorite character. It made him seem like a real person to me, rather than just a character from a movie. Although he’s portrayed as some big tough dude through his looks, his frightened and funny side made me realize there is more to someone than what you see on the outside,” senior Catherine Reed said.
Powell began his career playing small roles and making guest appearances on TV shows, but gained attention through his leading role in “Scream Queens,” in 2015. He has since then gained even more recognition through his roles in both Top Gun: Maverick and Anyone But You. Powell is also an award winner of the Screen Actors Guild Awards and the Palm Spring International Film Festival.
Like Powell, Sweeney began her career as a guest star in many popular TV shows such as “Greys Anatomy,” “Pretty Little Liars,” and “Criminal Minds.” Then started to gain attention in 2018 when she starred in the TV shows “Everything Sucks!,” and later starred in the TV shows “Euphoria,” and “The Handmaid’s Tale.” She is now starring alongside Dakota Johnson in the upcoming movie Madame Web, where she is playing the role of Julia Carpenter. Sweeney has won an MTV Movie + TV Award and Sidewalk Film Festival Award as well as being nominated for multiple People’s Choice Awards.
Going viral all over TikTok with Ben’s serenity song “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, Anyone but You has gotten tons of recognition since its release. Selling out theaters instantly, it has got a 6.6/10 rating according to IMDb and an 87%, Rotten Tomato score according to Rotten Tomatoes.
Since Anyone but You is rated R, for explicit language throughout, sexual content, and brief nudity, I recommend viewers to be 18 years or older. It will be available in theaters until mid-February or late February. Then expected to be available for rent on Prime Video, YouTube TV, Google Play, and Apple TV, and eventually streamed on Netflix according to azcentral.
