Anyone But You
★★★
It was refreshing to see a pure romantic comedy in the theater again. The fact that Anyone But You made the jump to the big screen before going to a streaming service probably raised my expectations more than they needed to be. There are a lot of nonsensical things that happen in this movie, even by rom-com standards, but that didn't keep me from having a good time. The film gets off to a shaky start, but once all the main characters land in Australia, you can settle into the vibe and dynamics that director Will Gluck is aiming for.
I've always enjoyed Glen Powell in the things that I've seen him in and I feel like he is on the cusp of being a huge star. His charisma and charm carry this film as he lets it all hang out, literally. I remembered Sydney Sweeney from The White Lotus, but was a little shocked that she had the heft to be a lead in this type of movie. She has a girl next door quality to her yet knows how to command the screen. She and Powell excel when they couple together, but they never quite find the right flow when they are supposed to "hate" one another, which this film hinges on quite a bit.
Anyone But You never knows if it wants to be a PG-13 romp from the '90s or an R-rated shock comedy from the Aughts. If it picked one of those lanes it would have been a lot better, but regardless, it was a fun date movie. But I was thankful that we ended up paying the matinee price for it.
Additionally, this movie would provide for a very fun drinking game. Take a drink every time that you see the Sydney Opera House. I'm pretty sure this whole film was financed by the Sydney Visitors Bureau. There is even an icon of the famous building that heads up the end credits. Was this movie filmed in Australia's most famous city because it stars someone named Sydney???
