By Stella Williams

Imagine finding yourself halfway across the world celebrating a wedding with both the person you hate most and your ex-partner. This nightmare becomes a reality for the two main characters in the newly released romantic comedy Anyone But You.

Powell and Sweeney. Photo courtesy of Glenn Powell’s Instagram page.

Settling down in my seat with popcorn in hand, I waited eagerly through the previews, getting ready to experience the highly hyped romcom. I had seen multiple interviews with lead actors Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, who used their off-camera chemistry to draw attention to the movie. The film’s official TikTok page drew on the romantic tension between the two to attract viewers to watch the film. 

Finally, the theater grew dark, and we embarked on the journey of watching what Clarkie Ackerly (‘24) considers “one of the best romcoms of all time.” 

The plot, loosely based on William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, follows the main characters, Bea (Sweeney) and Ben (Powell), on a journey to find love. The two first meet each other in their hometown of Los Angeles, where they go on what many could describe as the perfect date. The following morning, the two experience a significant misunderstanding that creates a divide between them, leading to extreme resentment. Bea and Ben then go to Australia, where they are surprised to meet again while attending the wedding of Bea’s sister Halle and Ben’s childhood friend Claudia. 

Photo courtesy of Glenn Powell’s Instagram page.

In the beginning, the two constantly fight and bicker, but after they are realize that both of their ex-partners, played by Darren Barnet and Charlee Fraser, have been invited to the wedding, they plan to fake a relationship to make their exes jealous. The movie from here is filled with laughter, tears, and adventure as Bea and Ben navigate their fake relationship and attempt to make their ex-partners envious. Many scenes incorporate the natural beauty of Australia and add to the film’s engaging plot. The movie ends with a passionate and light-hearted scene guaranteed to have everyone in the theater leave with a smile. 

Once the lights came back on and our popcorn was finished, Ackerly and I left the theater fully content. When we returned to the car, we could not help but play the theme song of the movie, 2004’s hit “Unwritten,” by Natasha Bedingfield, which played multiple times throughout the film. 

Ackerly described the movie as “one of the best romcoms I have seen in a while, but I still think How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days is the best.” I shared Ackerly’s excitement about the movie and enjoyed the comedic plot and classic enemies-to-lovers story. Although the movie followed a recognizable storyline used in many other romcoms, the chemistry between characters, humor, and incredible setting made it rank highly among some of our other favorite movies. 

Many of my other friends had the same reaction. AC Hall (‘24) said the movie was “the best romcom since 27 Dresses,” and Heidi Albrecht (‘24) added on by saying, “I thought it was a cute and fun movie to watch! However, I don’t think it compares to the iconic romcom How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days.” I heard no negative comments about the film from the students who’ve seen it.

Anyone But You release poster. Photo courtesy of Sony Pictures Releasing.

Many critics and fans took to IMBD to voice their opinions. IMDB user  “Ambusched94” depicted the movie as “a forgettable rom-com.” User “Cinemapersonified” shared Ambusched94’s emotions toward the film and wrote that the movie was “an incredibly formulaic Rom-Com that tries way too hard to capitalize on the popularity and looks of Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney.” 

However, the page was not entirely filled with such negative comments. User “MichealByTheSea” described the plot as “pure escapism featuring beautiful people, beautiful locations with lots of laugh-out-loud moments,” and another anonymous critic thought it was “one of the best romantic comedies that I have seen in a very loooong time.” Averaging out both the negative and positive reviews, the film is a 6.6/10. Currently, the movie ranks 8th out of 100 on IMBd’s most popular movie chart. Although the movie had mixed reviews, it has done well at the box office, grossing 81 million dollars so far. Anyone But You is also up for a People’s Choice Award for “The Comedy Movie of The Year.” 

The New York Times review by Amy Nicholson, “‘Anyone but You’ Review: Baring Bums in the Land Down Under,” claims the movie to be “sold as a return to the salacious rom-com, although that’s only true for one good scene.” The article goes on to say the cast and their appearances are some of the best things about the film, but ultimately found the plot to be “more bawdy than erotic.” Nicholson was not impressed by the “classic switchback prank” plot. 

Overall, I enjoyed the film and rated it a 9/10 for its engaging plotline, comedic anecdotes, and intimate ending. I disagree with many of the negative comments about the film, and I will re-watch it soon. I recommend Anyone But You to anyone looking for a movie to satisfy their need for a classic-feeling romantic comedy. 

Featured image credit: Sony Pictures Releasing.