The highly anticipated rom-com 'Anyone But You', a modern adaptation of William Shakespeare's 'Much Ado About Nothing', had many fans of the genre convinced that this movie would reignite the old, early 2000s rom-com flame. It stars Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney as Ben and Bea, two people who, after a small miscommunication ruins an otherwise perfect first date and leads them to hate each other, are invited to attend the wedding of Bea's sister and Ben's friend in Australia. Ben and Bea hatch a plan to throw their families' off their backs about needing to date each other by, well, 'dating' each other. It's a recycled rom-com formula that is as old as time, but, honestly, 'Anyone But You' rekindles our love for it.
There are essentially two love stories at play in this movie: the one between Ben and Bea and the one between us (the viewer) and Australia. Rom-coms have a magical way of reintroducing the world to us and of reinventing our otherwise every-day surroundings. Sure, it's not every day you get to hop on a plane to Australia and have a stroll along their golden, sandy beaches, basking in its magnificent sunlight, but movies like 'Anyone But You' will always showcase how authentically beautiful nature is, something we take too often for granted. It's honestly crazy how a rom-com can transform everyday cities, beaches, countrysides, you name it, from something uninspiring to something quite mesmerising; the scene between Ben and Bea on a sailing boat, for example, presents a canvas of vibrant and awe-inspiring colour. Oftentimes, with the tension quite mellow in rom-coms, as it is throughout 'Anyone But You', you really get a chance to absorb and appreciate the natural backdrops behind the protagonists.
Like its rom-com predecessors, 'Anyone But You' will have viewers feeling tortured by keeping the central protagonists apart, despite their attraction to each other. Powell and Sweeney do a fantastic job of convincing us they are destined to be together but are too stubborn to realise it. Their on-screen chemistry is a reminder that casting is such a huge part when it comes to creating a believable relationship between two people. Yes, rom-coms will hyperbolise certain aspects of reality, but there is much truth in individuals missing out on potentially great relationships due to a fear of letting their guard down and showing vulnerability, as Powell and Sweeney show in their performances. Powell and Sweeney's characters actually have an interesting conversation about the breakdowns of past relationships during the movie. When talking to Ben about why her past relationship with her ex ended, Bea explains that there was no tension, no fights, and that everything always seemed perfect all the time. Essentially, it was a very empty relationship. While fighting between partners is less than preferable, if partners don't make known their differences and attempt to explore them with each other, then there's no chance of them truly getting to understand each other on a deeper level and potentially evolving into a more-rounded couple. I think this is why we are not too distraught at Ben and Bea's arguments, because with each little spat, they only recognise their own flaws more and try to work on them, all while appreciating each other for guiding them.
Overall, 'Anyone But You' is a fun rehashing of the 'Enemies to Lovers' story. Viewers have the opportunity to kick back and enjoy a light-hearted love story set against some breathtaking backgrounds for an hour and a half. And who doesn't want that every once in a while?
Note: I do not own the imagery used in this post.
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