Thursday, 18 April 2024

VOD: Anyone But You (dir: Will Gluck, 2023)

"I feel you can't leave me alone."
"Same reason I slow down at a car crash."

This surprisingly popular American grown-up rom-com hits familiar tropes from the start in an unexpected coffee shop encounter between Bea and Ben - complete with splashing bathroom sink tap that soaks her jeans - and after a perfect night together, an unfortunate overheard conversation the next morning brings the budding relationship crashing down.  Six months later, a frosty chance run-in is followed by a trip to Australia for a friend/family wedding that forces them together into endless snarky dialogue and unlikely comedic situations, as they decide to pretend to be an item to keep everyone happy and off their backs.  It is all very polished, shiny and sunny, peddling the typical fabulously wealthy and good-looking rom-com fantasy lifestyle, but Anyone But You is generally quite well-written and performed effectively - as the lead couple, Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell absolutely give it all they've got - and there is a level of self-awareness that makes the film one of the more bearable and entertaining modern examples of the genre.   
 

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