Is the romcom dead? I’m happy to report that it is alive and well. Romantic comedies have been around since the beginning of moviemaking. You get the right lead actors with the right chemistry, and it works. ‘Anyone But You’ has been gaining traction at the box office, no thanks to Rotten Tomatoes which simply does not like this genre. The reason it clicks is due to Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Romcoms always have a formulaic structure. This is why it is so important to have two leads with good chemistry. The dialogue is sharp and the plot borrows from a Shakespeare classic ‘Much Ado About Nothing.’ I recommend giving ‘Anyone But You’ a chance.
The story opens with a meet-cute at a coffee shop between Bea (Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell). They spend the day together and end up in each other’s arms the next morning. Bea thinks it would be a good idea to sneak away without waking up Ben. When she decides to go back to his apartment, she overhears a conversation between him and his buddy Pete (GaTa). She hears him talking about her disparagingly. She does not realize he is just saying those things because his heart is broken over her abrupt exit from his place. They move on with their lives thinking there was never a spark between them.
Fast forward sometime later when they are both invited to a wedding in Sydney, Australia. They are surprised to find out they will both be at the same wedding. They decide to bury the hatchet during this joyous occasion. It is funny how their friends and family try to play matchmaker between them. They appear to hate each other. As romantic comedies go, Sydney is a beautiful location. The wedding will take place in a house overlooking the ocean somewhere on the Gold Coast. How can you possibly stay bitter enemies in such a gorgeous setting? The rapid-fire banter between the two leads is priceless. It is like the prom king and queen getting into a fight at the school dance. You want them to kiss and make up.
Powell is known for his role in ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ and Sweeney is unforgettable in ‘Euphoria.’ I didn’t know much about Sweeney until I saw her in ‘Anyone But You.’ She’s funny. She reminds me of that snooty girl in school that was popular and seems unapproachable. When you get the nerve to talk to her, she’s pretty cool and down-to-earth. That’s how I felt about the two leads in this story. You think the most attractive people in the room have it made. You find out that they can be lonely and have problems with relationships just like anybody else. That’s what I liked about them. They are super attractive together but are willing to look silly in various situations.
The supporting cast is first-rate. Although this story is not original, I began to care about Sweeney and Powell’s characters. I was rooting for them to end up in each other’s arms. Will Gluck’s other films include ‘Friends with Benefits’ and ‘Easy A.’ This one has the same charm and wit as his previous comedies. The true test of any romantic comedy is chemistry between the two leads. Sweeney and Powell have the right stuff. Give ‘Anyone But You’ a much-deserved look at the movie theater.
