So... I finally watched "Anyone but you".

If I had to describe Anyone But You in one word, it would be: right. And without much fanfare, the 2023 rom-com starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney delivers on all the successes and failures we've come to expect from a film of this genre. The result? A simple and effective story that, despite its generic nature, is refreshing in a landscape where R-rated comedies have ceased to be the norm a couple of years ago.

Directed by Will Gluck, Anyone But You tells the story of two young people (Bea and Ben) who meet in a cafe, have immediate chemistry, and spend the night together. Then, after a misunderstanding, they end up leading separate lives and even end up hating each other.

Two years later, they discover that two mutual friends are getting married, and they are forced to spend a couple of days together in Australia, something their respective families take advantage of to rekindle the spark that obviously still exists between them.

At its worst, Anyone But You can be defined as a sequence of rom-com cliches, misunderstandings between the protagonists, situations bordering on slapstick, and the constant dichotomy between the funny and the emotional. Powell and Sweeney have an undeniable on-screen chemistry, which makes every moment they share a pleasure to watch. Although Sweeney's acting skills are lacking compared to some of her other more dramatic roles (in Immaculate Conception, for example, she did a fantastic job). Still, it's easy to ignore all these imperfections, letting oneself be carried away by the good pacing of the film and the presence of supporting characters that make the whole experience more enjoyable.

In terms of style, Anyone But You is closer to being a "No Hard Feelings" than a La La Land, and that doesn't bother me at all. It knows its place very well and is forgettable but entertaining enough that I'll consider revisiting it in a couple of months... that is, if I get bored enough.

Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell are undeniably part of a relatively recent movement that seems to be bringing the concept of the "movie star" back into the mainstream, and I love it.

It's far from my favorite film, but I don't mind the idea of more films like this, works capable of bringing together conventionally attractive actors in stories that organically exploit their sexuality.

Fun and no much else, as it should be.

This score was taken from my Letterboxd account.