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This week at the Tryon Theatre we have “Anyone But You” (Gluck 2023), a ribald and charming romantic comedy delivering frequent laughs in a reliable formula of playful sexual tension. The formula being employed here is in fact Shakespearean, derived from Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing. 

The narrative leads of both that play and this film are potential lovers, initially bonded in antipathy for each other, informed by respective wrongs in their past. They are then brought together by happenstance in the company of their family and friends, all in one location. This provides a perfect mix of events wherein positive pressures of family and potential reunions with past paramours bring the leads together in the conspiracy of a performative pairing. 

They pursue this romantic ruse to both appease some parties and to create jealousy in others, each hoping they can employ their subterfuge for selfish gain. 

This narrative frame has been adapted to numerous films throughout the year, some directly so, but many in the same form as “Anyone But You,” an adaptation in structure only, with setting, characters and finer narrative threads departing heavily from the play. 

Like any romantic comedy, the success of this film is dependent upon the chemistry of its leads, Ben and Bea, played by Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, respectively. Both actors certainly meet the expectations of good looks we have for our romantic leads, but more than that, they do establish a successfully snarky and simmering rapport. The age of these leads, and other projects in which they’ve starred, are certainly geared toward a younger audience, with this film having been very successful at other theaters amongst teenage and young adult cinemagoers. 

“Anyone But You” occupies the sweetly raunchy section of the romantic comedy spectrum. The film’s dialogue is quick and snappy while also laden with no shortage of profanity and innuendo, earning numerous laughs but some cheeky groans and scandalous chuckles as well. The film’s runtime mirrors the gait of its quippy deliveries, providing a tight and light story. 

“Anyone But You” is a cinematic dessert, a fluffy and indulgent film with all the appropriate sweetness and naughtiness. This film, in its wider release, was praised by audiences for its enjoyability but criticized by critics for its predictability and what they argued was its conventionality. 

While that argument may be valid, the exact criticism levied is what creates an appeal for many filmgoers. If a film can reliably provide an appealing and appreciated formula, with all the expected genre conventions and character performances, it has great capital for many potential attendees. For those who would prefer a more groundbreaking or artistic quality to their film, this week may not be your cup of tea, but we’ll have another critic’s darling in no time.

For anyone in pursuit of a breezy film with some raunchy laughs and a reliably charming rom-com formula, we hope you will enjoy “Anyone But You”!