Anyone But You Review!

Anyone But You is funny, laugh out loud, romance whose leads have such chemistry on screen that social media suspects their chemistry is off screen! The director and co-writer, Wil Gluck, also had similar duties with the rom com Friends with Benefits (2011). 

Ilana Wolpert, the film’s co-writer, worked on the series, High School Musical: The Musical. It is very loosely inspired by the Shakespeare comedy, Much Ado About Nothing. One of my favorites of Shakespeare’s plays. I wish I would have known this part since there is an unreality to the story, it could go into physical comedy, clever dialogue, and absurd characters. 

We are quickly introduced to Bea, short for Beatrice, Messina played by Sydney Sweeney. Cassie Howard is the role Sweeney is known for with the high school drama, Euphoria. Sweeney is also executive producer for the movie. She rushes into a coffee shop to use the restroom. The barista says it is only for customers, yup, and she tries to buy bread, but is shown the long queue. 

Ben (Glen Powell) sees her from his place at the front of the long line. I recognzied Powell for his part as Hangman in Top Gun: Maverick (2022). By the way, the feuding lovers in the Shakespeare comedy were Beatrice and Benedick. He cuts into their conversation and asks if she wants her usual. She adds a tea and he also aks for the bathroom key. She leaves her coat with Ben. An unusual Meet Cute. 

Bea is in the restroom talking to Halle, whom we find out is her sister, about meeting Ben. Then, the sink accidentally sprays her pants! She tries to use the hand drier fan lifting up to air her pants. Social awkwardness is very relatable! Sweeney is game for the physical comedy. Ben checks on her. Bea makes excuses and then takes off her pants to hold them up to the fan! 

Her pants are just dry enough for Bea to walk out and get her coat. Ben attempts to ask Bea out. It is easy to see these two people together. He stamps on the toilet paper clinging to her high heel! A closeup of Ben making a grilled cheese sandwich as we see them walking together at night. Bea says she is studying to be a lawyer at Boston University. He has finished cooking the sandwich and takes them out of the fan. 

Bea immediately starts eating it, but Ben had warned her that it was too hot!  She sees his apartment, Ben explains he works for Goldman Sachs, and she notices a arge wrench on his cabinet. He says it was from his mother before she died. It was a reminder to him, "No matter how broken you are, you can fix it." A very strong character moment that Ben really doesn’t take to heart. 

The next moning, Bea entangles herself from Ben and tries to quietly dress hereself. She stumbles which stirs Ben and Bea leaves his apartment. We have Ben’s friend Pete (GaTa) entering his apartment. The actor and rapper, GaTA, appeared in the Fxx comedy series, Dave. Bea is walking and talking to Halle about spending the night with Ben. She is excited about the romance and Halle convinces her to return to Ben’s place. 

She is about to walk in, but overhears Pete saying that Ben is in love. He replies, “She’s a nothing”! We get that it is “Six Months Later”, cleverly seen in a red bar sign. At the crowded bar, Pete and Ben, meet Pete’s sister, Claudia (Alexandra Shipp) and he girlfriend, Halle (Hadley Robinson). Shipp is also Author Barbie in this year’s phenomenon, Barbie. Robinson also plays Joyce Simdars in this year’s bio drama, The Boys in the Boat. 

Halle asks Bea about her break from Jonathan. Claudia tells Pete that she’s engaged to Halle. Bea and Ben are invited to their wedding on December 22nd. Leo (Dermot Mulroney) and Innie (Rachel Griffiths), Halle and Bea’s parents, say they object to the wedding. This is a video and instead they say the wedding will take place in Australia.  Mulroney returning to rom coms since he is known for one of the most well known film, My Best Friend’s Wedding (1997) which also starred Griffiths. 

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