Miss Flicks

Anyone But You: Film Review

I love a romantic comedy and will be out there supporting any rom-com that makes it onto the big screen because that doesn’t happen often. Anyone But You isn’t perfect but I still enjoyed it a lot.

The film stars Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell as Bea and Ben, who went on a date and never saw each other again due to a big misunderstanding. When Bea’s sister Halle (Hadley Robinson) later gets married to Ben’s friend’s sister Claudia (Alexandra Shipp) in Sydney, Australia, they struggle to get along for the sake of their loved ones. However, when Bea’s overbearing parents fly out her ex Jonathan (Darren Barnet) to try and get them back together, she fakes a romance with Ben to get them off her case.

The idea, loosely inspired by William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing, is pretty silly and predictable but it’s still nice to go along for the ride, especially in such a gorgeous location and one that is rarely used in Hollywood films. Powell and Sweeney make the story work with their terrific chemistry and are unafraid to showcase their hotness. This is what romantic comedies used to be like! Let’s bring that back!

The film, directed by Easy A’s Will Gluck, delivers on the romance (even though you mostly know what’s coming) but is rather hit-and-miss on the comedy. Powell really throws himself into the comedic moments and is a rare leading man who is up for being both hot and a bit dumb. Sweeney is funny in places but it seems more natural with Powell. Their supporting co-stars give mixed results with their attempts at humour (particularly GaTa as Ben’s friend Pete) but I liked Shipp and Robinson.

I laughed a handful of times throughout the movie and was planning to give it three stars. However, I ended up giving it 3.5 stars for its wonderful use of Natasha Bedingfield‘s Unwritten and the hilarious, feel-good end credits sequence of the actors singing it during various scenes. I hope this sequence ends up online so I can watch it over and over again.

Anyone But You wasn’t the banger I hoped it would be but it is still an enjoyable watch thanks to the sizzling chemistry between the two gorgeous leads. I would happily watch them in more movies together – let’s make it happen!

In cinemas now