Anyone But You has more emotional depth than you think.
During winter break, I had the opportunity to see the rom-com, Anyone But You, with one of my hometown friends. I’d seen so many TikToks about the movie, so my expectations were through the roof. While some moments were very cheesy, I enjoyed the movie and walked away from the theater feeling that I may have found a new rom-com to watch during a girls night in. So, here is what I’ve learned from watching Anyone But You:
- Romantic comedies are surging in popularity once again
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It’s no secret that Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney have a decent amount of chemistry on screen, but the immense amount of videos online led me to believe one thing: rom-coms are having their moment. There was so much hype surrounding this movie, with people arguing over Bea (Sydney Sweeney’s character) and Ben’s (Glen Powell’s character) chemistry, so I had to see what all the hype was about. Would they have enough chemistry to make watching the movie worthwhile? (They did). But, would I have watched it without seeing all of the buzz about Anyone But You online? Maybe? Regardless, I think it suffices to say that people clearly need new romantic comedies to watch because of how they are appreciated and hyped up online.
- A little bit of lying goes a long way
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Lying helps bring people together? In the beginning of the movie, Halle (Bea’s sister) and her fiance, Claudia, lied to get Bea and Ben to start dating. They had met before the wedding, having a one night stand after meeting at a coffee shop. However, this chemistry was squashed after they talked negatively about one another behind each other’s backs. Knowing this, Claudia and Halle lied, saying that Bea and Ben both regretted how they treated the situation in a fake private conversation, which they overheard. However, Bea and Ben caught on to Claudia and Halle’s lies, bonding over being lied to. Ultimately, Bea and Ben wouldn’t have gotten together had they not been deceived by Halle and Claudia, launching their relationship to a different level.
- Communication is key
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Once Bea and Ben realized they had been lied to, they staged a fake relationship, tricking their families and friends into believing they were in love. They weren’t successful in holding on to the fake relationship – SPOILER ALERT – as it developed into a real one, but Bea and Ben still clearly communicated their romantic histories to one another, bonding in the process. Bea told Ben how she felt about her parents inviting her ex to her sister’s wedding, helping Ben support her in their fake relationship. In turn, Ben gave Bea an in-depth account of his relationship with Claudia’s cousin, providing Bea with the necessary information to make his ex jealous. They had the goal of getting revenge on their family and friends, but disclosing personal information only drew them closer together.
- You need a serenity song
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If I have learned anything from this movie, it is that everyone needs a serenity song. While you may share your serenity song with Ben (Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten“), it’s important to have a song that can instantly make you feel calm and happy. “Unwritten” became the main motif for the film, providing necessary cohesion to the plot, as almost a comfort song. “Unwritten” instantly made Ben feel better and remain calm, even when facing his fear of flying. So, when we need to face fears that seem difficult to navigate, we should adopt a serenity song that inspires confidence.
Overall, I was skeptical of how good Anyone But You would be. I didn’t know if it would meet my high expectations. In the end, it somewhat did; and I did learn something, regardless of whether or not the movie was the best one I’ve ever seen. Anyone But You is not a cinematic masterpiece, but people are supposed to leave the theater feeling better when they watch rom-coms. And for me, it did just that.