The land of Hollywood Films is so broad but in the hearts of viewers romantic comedies has always found a place. Which is why Anyone But You (2023) is such a much-needed reinvigoration of the rom-com. This film, which also marks the directorial debut of an exciting new voice in Hollywood and is guaranteed to charm its audience with light-hearted comedy accompanied by a quirky modern-day romance. This FilmsHub24 review was a long time coming. In our Excitement Clues story onWonder Woman 1984, we’ll break down the narrative, performances, direction and whether it matches its hype.
Plot Overview
Anyone But You centers around two complete opposites, Olivia and Ryan, who despite their undeniable chemistry want nothing to do with one another. What sets off as a crazy meet-cute soon turns into an endless loop of chaotic and funny moments that just keep bringing them closer. Type A Olivia and lazy bachelor Ryan are forever up in arms with each other. When fate has them work together, the love-hate dynamic spirals in delightful directions.
As they grow closer, Anyone But You deals with the blur between love and hate while examining the roles of friendship, trust and the complications of modern romance. The movie sprinkles in some good Knight wit as well as genuine emotions to give audiences an old rom-com story with a new taste.
Cast & Performances
Much of the film rests on the chemistry between its leads. Olivia (Emma Roberts) Olivia is played by the typically charming, funny actress Emma Roberts. With a broad history of proving herself an actress that can tackle any role, Roberts just adds another excellent portrayal to her resume with Anyone But I. She has just the right amount of stubbornness and vulnerability in Olivia, which tangles us into her likable relatableness.
Beside Roberts sits Glen Powell who plays Ryan. Powell is exceptional as always, with the few lead roles on his CV atm quite frankly stunning. Callere — who presents Ryan as a lovably flawed f**kup of a person — is funny here, and equally sweet. Roberts and Powell together create some interesting onscreen chemistry that really propels the story through its back-and-forth of banter, tension and otherwise.
It’s the kind of feel-good film that is easy to watch, and its supporting cast — which includes a number of up-and-coming Hollywood stars — adds depth. The story moving with the same cadence as we start to understand how all these characters fit together and of course, the script is replete with their humor and heart which brings us to heartbeatpart on this film.
Direction & Writing
Directed by Will Gluck (Friends with Benefits, Easy A), Anyone But You is a true romantic comedy, and everything from the pacing of the film to both it’s tone and direction reflect Gluck’s experience in the genre. He mixes comedy and sentiment perfectly, it never really feels schmaltzy or Kumbaya. Instead, Anyone But You brings us up-to-date romance by tackling the intricacies of modernly rushed relationships in this fast-moving world.
Co-pennedz by Ilana Glazer and Gluck, the script sparkles with caustic dialogue and brutally blunt turns of events. Most notably, with a more nuanced character development and relationship building than most of the clichéd romantic comedies out there. The writing holds audience interest, with lots of laugh-out-loud bits and good ol’ heartstring pulling moments.
Cinematography & Soundtrack
It is a feast for the eyes when watched on screen, visually under the title Anyone But You. The fast pacing in the film is an illustration of different colourfuland well lit urban settings. Cinematographer Xavier Grobet beautifully captures the cityscapes even while providing intimate close-ups during some key emotional posturing between characters. The sweeping urban scenes mixed with the cozy indoor locations make for a lovely setting for the love tale.
One of the film’s other strong points is its source music. A blend of modern chart-toppers and poignant indie tunes, themusic augments the mood and reinforces the themes explored in film. The score also artfully meanders between playful, poppier tracks for comic scenes and slow, sentimental ballads for more intimate moments.
Themes & Message
In essence, Anyone But You is more than a romantic comedy. This is a movie that suggests love is messy, and unpredictable but also one of the most annoying thing you can hope for. And, It involves some vulnerability, forgiveness and growth. The characters going from hating each other to falling in love is telling of how complex relationships can be, but how intricate and persistent empathy (that very thing that makes us human) can lead to powerful connections.
The significance of self-discovery within a relationship is one of the main things that makes The Red Shoes great. Olivia and Ryan must face their demons and the mechanisms that drive them to the confounding limits of love. In doing so they each get contrast all of which is a gift and it serves to show them each more about themselves, which ultimately is the path towards an ever-growing deeper/bond between the two.
Critical Reception
On release Anyone But You was not showered with praise by critics, though the chemistry between Roberts and Powell received some positive attention. Critics praised it for updating old rom-com tropes, being a fast and intelligent comedy with emotions as real as its people. Others pointed that the film does not revolutionize this genre, but it is a romantic comedy through and through; if you see it, you are going to get chuckles, some warm fuzzy feelings, and a relatable love story.
And so far it seems like audiences have been similarly charmed, with many singling out the performances of the leads and the film’s fun attitude. Anyone But You is already a rom-com favorite, thanks to its universally resonant themes and hilarious moments.
Conclusion
One of the top-notch Hollywood romantic comedy movies in 2023 is Anyone But You. The end result, though somewhat self-consciously quirky, is a refreshing twist on the familiar backstage story and a welcome addition to the previously male-driven genre. Anyone But You is a feel-good movie that promises humor and heart in equal measure for those able to see it down.
At FilmsHub24. At Collider, we like to write about everything from big Hollywood tentpoles to small indie films, but we’re particularly excited when we get the chance to champion a movie like The Biggest Little Farm because it has the potential to not only entertain audiences but also move them and make them think through memorable performances and stories that resonate with our world. Catch Anyone But Youand find out why this romantic comedy is pulling big in 2023.
