Olivia Morris
Contributing Writer
When I originally watched the film Anyone But You, it seemed as though a Love Island episode became a movie. I considered the film to lack quality and viewed it to be too similar to several other romantic comedies I have seen, but a conversation with my friend and her roommate about their opinions on the film changed my view for the better.
The film was released on Dec. 22nd, 2023. The romantic comedy follows Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) as they begin as enemies, plagued by a misunderstanding, but create a false relationship in an attempt to make their past partners jealous and come back to them. It is a lovely, lighthearted story with amusing, sometimes hilarious scenes.
Annelise Matthiesen (C’ 28) says she would rate the movie with a six out of ten. “because it was a very cute, sweet, funny rom-com . . . I really enjoyed watching it . . . At the same time, I feel like I’ve watched better rom-coms in my life.” She viewed the movie as a fun film to watch with her friends and her sister.
McLean Broaddus (C’ 28) would rate the film with an eight out of ten. “Because I’m really a big fan of . . . cute romantic moments.” She noted that the movie does hold similarities with other romantic comedies, but there was a “will they, won’t they” aspect that created tension and overall uncertainty of how the story would end.
I asked a few more questions of Broaddus and Matthiesen and received a large amount of positive feedback. They agreed that the casting was a good choice and the actors carried their roles well by portraying chemistry that builds slowly over time. They especially liked the casting choice of Powell, noting that he is an attractive, talented actor. Though his success is relatively recent, he is gaining an increasing amount of popularity within the film industry at a rather fast rate. I would also like to praise Sweeney for her performance in this film. Sweeney adapted this role very well and truly embodied the character she was portraying. She has also been gaining popularity, portraying very different characters in several projects. Both actors deserve recognition for their roles in this film.
Although Matthiesen and Broaddus referenced multiple specific moments they enjoyed in the film, they also mentioned a scene they found to be odd and unnecessary. The scene they were referring to was intended as comic relief involving a naked man showering outdoors in front of other characters, who were stationed by the stall and conspired against the showering man. It made them slightly uncomfortable, and they did not see a good reason for the scene to exist.
However, that was the only specific scene they thought of as unnecessary, and enjoyed the movie overall. They gave me an entirely new perspective on the film. I was only focusing on what I thought the film was lacking, not what it already held. Anyone But You is a beautiful story that contains funny moments that are balanced by unexpected twists and emotions throughout the entire film.