Anyone But You (2023)

Australia, United States of America

Comedy, Romance

Olive Bridge Entertainment, Fifty-Fifty Films, Roth-Kirschenbaum Films, SK Global Entertainment, Columbia Pictures, TSG Entertainment, Australian Government

Sydney Sweeney, Glen Powell, Alexandra Shipp, Michelle Hurd, Bryan Brown, Darren Barnet

Will Gluck

Will Gluck, Ilana Wolpert, Ilana Wolpert

They only look like the perfect couple.

australia, hiking, college, romantic comedy, based on play or musical, shakespeare in modern dress, aftercreditsstinger, duringcreditsstinger, fake dating, sister's wedding, much ado about nothing

After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben’s fiery attraction turns ice cold — until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.

Author: Geronimo1967
Despite myself, I actually quite enjoyed this. After (what looked like) a platonic one night stand, "Bea" (Sydney Sweeney) and "Ben" (Glen Powell) manage to part company loathing one another. Serendipity has no intention of allowing this to be the end of things though, and so arranges for her sister to marry one of his best friends. After a few uncomfortable meetings in a bar, they all head off to Australia for the nuptials. Her parents are very keen to get her back with ex "Jonathan" (Darren Barnet) whilst his ex "Margaret" (Charlee Fraser) is also there. Against their better judgment our two decide to pretend to be a couple to provoke envy from one and protect the other from the intent of the meddling parents. What now ensues does really depend on a plausible degree of chemistry between Sweeney and Powell and I thought they did quite well. A little bit more meddling from Bryan Brown, some Di Caprio-esque action at the front of a yacht and some kindly support from the Sydney harbour rescue helicopter helps keep this amiably jogging along for an admittedly twenty minutes too long 1¾ hours. It's quite pithily written and manages to avoid the worst in both American and Australian stereotypes. It also isn't shy of sex, comic nudity and a bit of practical adult humour that makes a change from the usual puerile smut we are so frequently offered nowadays. It's entirely forgettable, but is an enjoyable enough dollop of sun, sea, sex and silliness.
Author: r96sk
Imperfect, though 'Anyone But You' does deliver amusing moments and works nicely as a romcom.It usually isn't the best sign when the end credits are a film's best bit, which is the case here (s/o Natasha Bedingfield!), though thankfully that statement is only an additional positive for this Will Gluck directed movie. It does do clichés, but does at least add some freshness to the genre.Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell portray great chemistry, I enjoyed both performances. Sweeney's stylist killed it I gotta say, heck even Powell's too. Some of their, and others', dialogue is too manufactured at times, but that be just a minor complaint to be honest. The rest of those onscreen are satisfactory. I must say the director's father, Peter Gluck, gave me one of the film's stronger chuckles in his tiny role on the plane sat next to Sweeney - perfect line delivery!I had fun with this. As already noted, it isn't anything all that standout but it delivered what I evidently wanted. Solid. The William Shakespeare stuff was a bit forced, mind you.