The cards were stacked against “Anyone But You,” the romantic comedy based on “Much Ado About Nothing” by Shakespeare starring Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. Competing against big-budget fanfare like “Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom” and “Wonka,” startling biopics like “The Boys in the Boat” and “The Iron Claw” and a musical adaptation of “The Color Purple” during its December release appeared to be the start of the film’s box office demise. “Anyone But You” garnered a mere $6 million opening week, seeming to cement the notion that the classic rom-com is dead in the age of streaming.
But over the coming weeks, something shifted. The film — produced partially by Sweeney’s production company Fifty-Fifty Films — garnered traction rather than slowing down. By its third week at the box office, the film found its stride, reaching number one and surpassing “Wonka.” Currently, it has grossed $126 million compared to its $25 million budget, becoming the highest grossing R-rated rom com since “Bridget Jones’s Baby” in 2016.
Following the formula for comedy laid out by William Shakespeare himself, “Anyone But You” begins the process of revitalizing a dying genre. The film follows Bea and Ben, two people who find themselves loathing each other despite an incredible first date. Reunited at a destination wedding in Australia between Bea’s sister and Ben’s childhood best friend, the two make the only logical decision: pretend to be a couple. Permitting itself to lean into tropes and carving out spaces to experiment proves to be a delicate balance, one the movie handles with care.
While some may argue that the key to the film’s success was the allure of the leads’ falling into the will-they-won’t-they dynamic during the press tour or the popularity of the film’s unspoken theme song “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield on TikTok, the true focal point of its triumph lies in returning the rom-com to its roots. Shakespearean rom-coms of the 90s and early 2000s — like “10 Things I Hate About You” (1999) based on the “Taming of the Shrew” or “She’s the Man” (2006) based on “Twelfth Night” — proved to give the people what they want. Why not try that again?
Powell and Sweeney both nail the slapstick comedy featured in the film. Equally charismatic and natural, Powell and Sweeney prove to make a quintessential rom-com pairing. Powell specifically doesn’t take himself too seriously, leading him to be a standout of the film.
The film does not shy away from its inspiration. Quotes from “Much Ado About Nothing” linger on walls and signage and occasionally find their way into the dialogue itself. During the wedding ceremony, one of the brides recites a Shakespeare quote in her vows, causing another character to note her way with words.
“Anyone But You” does not try to be anything it’s not. It’s not serious nor deep, and it doesn’t bring with it lingering existential questions for the audience. But during the one hour and 43 minute run time, “Anyone But You” is unapologetically flirty, raunchy and completely fun. The typical rom-com isn’t for everyone, but it is for some, and the film’s commercial success proves that this is still a market that can be tapped into. Some movies are just meant to be light — a joyful escape from reality to be found in a dimly-lit theater. “Anyone But You” is just that.
