Anyone But You: The Revival Of The Rom-Com
2023 was a year for the girls. The popularity of films such as the Barbie movie, and the success of the Eras and Renaissance tours, proved that audiences want to hear female voices and consume “girly” media.
Interspersed in all of that was trends, such as “girl dinner,” “girl math,” and the coquette aesthetic.
The release of the movie Anyone But You contributed to the momentum of “girl” movies and the rebirth of the romantic comedy.
It starts with a classic meet-cute between Sydney Sweeney, who plays Bea, and Glen Powell, who plays Ben, at a coffee shop. With matching names and blush-worthy chemistry, the meeting seems kismet.
However, after a perfect first date, things take a turn as Bea overhears Ben slandering her to Pete, his best friend. After that, they have nothing but hate for each other.
The plot picks up when Bea’s sister, Halle, and Claudia, Ben’s best friend, decide to tie the knot, forcing the pair to get along. The picturesque Australian summer is the perfect setting for a little matchmaking as Halle, Claudia, and their family plot to get the two together, before Bea and Ben’s burning hatred for each other sets the wedding aflame. It’s ironic, considering that when Bea and Ben realize their family’s plot, they go along with it to make Ben’s ex-girlfriend jealous and deter Bea’s parents, who are trying to get her back together with her fiance. As lines blur, chaos continues, and the fine line begins to dissipate.
The gorgeous backdrop is coupled with a get-stuck-in-your-head, binge-able soundtrack, filled with bright pop songs like Got Me Started by Troye Sivan and the certifiable classic Unwritten by Natasha Bedingfield. And the awkwardly, laughable antics that Bea and Ben do leaves audiences in stitches.
With classic tropes such as miscommunication, matchmaking and fake dating, you could consider the film the start of a rom-com renaissance—the genre dominated the 1990s and early 2000s, with films such as When Harry Met Sally, How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, and 10 Things I Hate About You.
But inevitably, the genre dried up and died. Critics said rom-coms were trite and repetitive, constantly reusing the same ideas and actors. That didn’t allow the genre to grow and it was soon left behind by action and superhero movies.
In a world of poignant and intense films, sometimes all we need is a nice laugh. Maybe films like Anyone But You are predictable and unrealistic, but that’s what makes the rom-com genre fun.
