A REVIEW by Lily Wheadon

 In recent years, one crucial element has been missing from the plethora of media and pop culture we have access to: good-quality romantic comedies. However, with the release of Anyone But You starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, the romcom can begin its long-awaited revival.

  This movie had everything: the perfect balance of romance, humor, and character depth with an ending that tied all of it together in a neat little bow. I knew I would like this movie from the beginning, as main characters Ben and Bea had a meet-cute that was equally as hilarious as it was swoonworthy. I also enjoyed the foreshadowing right from the get-go, as Ben pretends Bea is his wife in this coffee shop years before the two start the fake relationship that is the main premise of the movie. In the beginning of the movie, I was also surprised to hear some of my favorite songs, including “The Spins” by Mac Miller and Dominic Fike’s “Sick.” Additionally, the homage to Boston caught me off guard, and although it was short, I loved the shots of Fenway and the Zakim Bridge.

  After the opening ten minutes, the rest of the movie takes place in Australia for the destination wedding between Bea’s sister and one of Ben’s best friends. This scenery was beautiful, from the aerial shots of the beaches down to the tiny details such as the cars the main characters drove around in and the decorations at the wedding.

  Initially, I was skeptical about Sweeney in a leading role in a romcom. She is an incredible actress, but I had only ever seen her act in shows and movies that were very dramatic and artsy, and picturing her in such a fun, lighthearted role felt unnatural. However, her sarcasm and wit worked well for the movie overall, and Bea’s personality is endearing, which was made possible only through Sweeney’s delivery. 

  Furthermore, she perfectly complements Powell on screen.  For some indescribable reason, Powell seems to be made for movies like these. After watching him in the 2018 Netflix romcom Set it Up, I knew he was perfect for a role like this one, but even so I underestimated just how perfect this casting was. He had the perfect balance of sincerity and goofiness, and even though on the outside he looks like a stereotypical “cool guy”, the way his character is sort of dorky deep down makes him even more lovable.

  The supporting characters in this movie were almost as easy to love as the main characters. GaTa, who played Ben’s roommate Pete, was absolutely hilarious from his first minute on screen until his rendition of Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” accompanied by a koala in the end credits. I also loved how involved Ben and Bea’s families were in their relationship, even if their schemes to get the two of them together were over the top. 

  Anyone But You might be the first good romantic comedy to be released in years, and between the stellar opening, gorgeous scenery, and casting that created the perfect balance of sincerity and humor, I left the theater with a warm heart and high hopes for more quality romcoms to follow in its footsteps.