The new film, Anyone But You, has sparked the interests of romantic comedy lovers all over the world. After its release on December 22, 2023, the movie earned a significant amount of hype from the media, especially TikTok. Young adult content creators who watched the movie have raved about its exceptional plot, characters, and charm. Some audiences even state that the new film is “The best rom com since 10 Things I Hate About You”. Although it may seem like any other recent rom com release, specific factors of Anyone But You explain why the film has managed to stand out.
Anyone But You stars popular actors Glen Powell from Top Gun: Maverick and Sydney Sweeney from Euphoria. The film also features other recognizable faces such as Darren Barnet from Never Have I Ever and Alexandra Shipp from Barbie. The story follows Ben and Bea, played by Powell and Sweeney, as their romantic first date almost immediately turns into bitter hatred. When they find themselves celebrating the same wedding together in Australia, chaos ensues as the tension between them starts to turn the celebration sour. In order to give their loved ones a happy wedding, they agree to temporarily put their differences aside and pretend to be the perfect couple. This enemies-to-lovers plot is full of charm and wit, with mature humor that somehow feels “campy” at the same time.
What about this film caused it to boom in popularity? Maheen Syeda, a student at Wilcox, said that, “To me, a good rom com is one that makes me laugh and swoon. Anyone But You did that endlessly– much like rom coms from the early 2000s.” Syeda highlights the main purpose people choose to watch rom coms: they are lighthearted movies that won’t fail to make you smile. The hilarious plot of Anyone But You reels in viewers like a complicated inside joke that everyone wants to be a part of. Syeda elaborated, “I felt the same comfort as I do when rewatching rom coms like 10 Things I Hate About You or How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days.”
As Syeda stated, Anyone But You seems to revel in the “same comfort”, or nostalgia, of the early 2000s. The song ‘Unwritten’, released by Natasha Bedingfield in 2004, is featured multiple times in the film and became somewhat of a theme song for the audience. Viewers who may have used to listen to this song on the radio have obsessed over its use in the movie, bringing back the hype for something released nearly two decades ago.
Audiences also speculate that the exceptional casting choices made this romcom such a success. The use of familiar faces such as Powell and Sweeney combined with their ideal chemistry creates the perfect main characters viewers aspire to imitate in their own lives. Other viewers stated that more recent rom coms have lacked the chemistry between main characters that gives these films their charm. Fortunately, the supporting cast of Anyone But You provides the perfect mix of humor and tension to the main couple and the overall plot.
Anyone But You took the media by storm with its witty humor and strong chemistry between the main characters. The film manages to bring back the nostalgia of famous 2000s rom coms, while still maintaining a modern feel. Without a doubt, Anyone But You adds to the list of exceptional movie releases in 2023.
