Anyone But You is a fresh, contemporary take on William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing from Friends With Benefits director Will Gluck. It’s a quirky romcom on the love story of two commitment-phobic individuals who find themselves caught up in the chaos of a destination wedding.
Glen Powell plays Ben, a finance professional masking his emotional scars with a carefree attitude. His path crosses with Bea’s (Sydney Sweeney), a law student uncertain about her career path. The two have an instant connection, and spend a day and night in deep conversations over grilled cheese, revealing bits of themselves that they hide from the world. The next morning, an overwhelmed Bea abruptly leaves Ben’s place, then regrets her hasty retreat and returns to confess her feelings for Ben only to overhear Ben telling his friend that Bea was nothing more than a one-night stand.
Months later, their paths cross again after they both end up at a destination wedding in Australia. The wedding party intervenes, attempting to unite the bickering pair to maintain harmony. Ben and Bea decide to play along, hoping to thwart Bea’s parents’ attempts to reunite her with her childhood sweetheart Jonathan (Darren Barnet) and also to make Ben’s ex Margaret (Charlee Fraser) jealous. But of course this plan goes awry.
The screenplay, written by Will Gluck and Ilana Wolpert, keeps things casual, allowing the central conflict of commitment phobia to drive the story. In a nod to one of pop culture’s most popular love stories, James Cameron’s Titanic, Ben and Bea pose as Jack and Rose on the edge of a yacht, adding an unexpected twist to the storyline.
The appeal of Anyone But You lies in the chemistry between the gorgeous leads, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Powell brings out Ben’s guarded nature, while Sweeney breathes life into Bea’s desire to break free of her parents’ planned life. Their portrayal of a love that is whimsical and messy but also genuine strikes a chord.
The movie also includes the customary final declaration of love but deviates from the typical happily-ever-after ending. Instead of advocating for the couple to stay together, there’s a more nuanced reflection that true love means wanting the best for someone, even if it doesn’t involve you.