By Izzy Stein, Staff Writer
Dec. 22 saw the U.S. theatrical release of “Anyone But You” and a possible counterargument to the death of the romantic comedy.
In a media landscape riddled with mass-produced hallmark love stories that seem to cast the same actors on rotation, “Anyone But You” echoes a different sentiment as director Will Gluck attempts to breathe life back into the rom-com genre.
The film follows protagonists Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) whose initial meet-cute turns into miscommunication. Months pass and the pair appear to be moving in different directions until they are fortuitously brought back together for a destination wedding in Australia. So, to keep up appearances the two pretend to be a couple, because if you’re not going to someone else’s wedding and making it about yourself you’re doing it wrong.
It would be a disservice to talk about rom-coms without addressing that weird period between the late 1990s and early 2000s when they were everywhere. Julia Roberts had Hollywood casting directors in the palm of her hand and a fateful Thursday in 2003 decided that “Love Actually” was sacrosanct for the holiday season.
But the most influential rom-coms for Gen Z are often the Shakespearean-influenced cult classics like “She’s the Man,” “10 Things I Hate About You” and “John Tucker Must Die.” These films have continually provided comfort for the modern audience whilst feeding into delusional expectations of love. So, it is no surprise that “Anyone But You” has followed suit, basing aspects of the story on the play “Much Ado About Nothing.”
Sophomore data analytics major Matilda Boyle saw the film with a group of friends after hearing about it from family and across her TikTok feed. Though she enjoyed parts of the film, Gluck’s take on a Shakespearean classic might have missed the mark.
“I’m gonna be honest I don’t know a lot about Shakespeare, but I think the film could’ve leaned into that material a bit more. At times it came off as corny…like oh they hate each other, now they love each other… It’s a story that we’ve seen before,” Boyle said.
Could it be that the most memorable parts of the film have more to do with the scenery, soundtrack and sex appeal of characters than the actual story? For Boyle, it was the visual images of home and casting choices that impacted her the most, favoring any scene that captured the picturesque Australian landscape.
“I’ve watched a bit of Sydney Sweeney in the past and I know she’s a good actress…and it’s also shot in Australia and I’m Australian, so of course I’m gonna watch it,” she explained.
One particular scene towards the end of the film when Sweeney and Powell’s characters fall off a boat into Sydney Harbor seems to evoke a positive response from watchers.
After the two confess their feelings for each other whilst stranded on a buoy, a helicopter rescues them from above. As they ascend into the air, it seems only fitting that a bespoke rendition of Natasha Bedingfield’s smash hit “Unwritten” is performed in acapella.
Whilst this moment feels a little cringey, the absurdity of the scene radiates a sense of joy reminiscent of successful rom-coms of the past.
Junior education major Lauren Mathews is a rom-com connoisseur and commented on her favorite moments in the film after seeing it with a group of friends over winter break.
“Hmm…I love the first initial coffee scene because that’s where the spark started. There were a lot of good scenes, I don’t know…Oh, wait! The helicopter scene! Obviously,” she said.
Mathews also gushed about her favorite rom-coms, whilst commenting on where “Anyone But You” ranks amongst her top picks.
“‘10 Things I Hate About You’ is my favorite, but I also do love ‘The Notebook.’ But I did really like the movie. It was funnier than I expected it to be, I feel like it honed in on the comedy in comparison to other rom-coms that focus predominantly on romance,” Matthews shared.
As for whether or not this film marks a revival for rom-coms, the opinions were split.
“A revival? Not with that movie no…We didn’t really dig into the characters, I would’ve liked a bit more structure,” Boyle remarked.
Mathews was more optimistic, reflecting on the global reach of the film.
“I do think this is a good sign for rom-coms. There has been so much hype and anticipation around the movie so I feel like it could be big,” she stated.
The film is still in theaters, where it has grossed over $128 million since its release. Boasting a reasonable one-hour and 40-minute runtime and R-rating for mature audiences, students feel it is perfect for anyone attracted to hot people and even hotter climates.
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