For a while, we thought we had created a civilian world. But for some time now we have all been experiencing that the world is fragile. Wars and crises dominate our everyday lives, weak or self-centered politicians lead countries into chaos all over the world. Where is there still room or time for love? In the cinema. Because Sony is presenting us the rom-com Anyone but You with Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney.
ANYTHING BUT YOU
THE STORY AND CHARACTERS
Based on Shakespeare’s comedy Much Ado About Nothing, a lot of happenings revolve around tricky misunderstandings in Anyone but You. And as is often the case, two people who actually like each other with all their hearts begin a game of vanity.
BEA AND BEN
The pretty Bea struggles with her life, especially with her law studies. By chance, she meets Ben, who rescues her from an awkward situation. One thing quickly leads to another. But due to a stupid misunderstanding, the two fall apart as quickly as they have found each other. So far, so ordinarily.
THE FRIENDS & FAMILY
When there wouldn’t be that mutual circle of friends. Because – sorry, now it gets a bit complicated – Bea’s sister Halle marries Pete’s sister Claudia.
However, Pete is Ben’s best friend. Therefore, chaos is inevitable in Anyone but You. Even more, because the wedding of the two lovebirds takes place Down Under, in Sidney, Australia. There is no possibility of escape here.
The situation doesn’t get any easier because Ben’s ex-girlfriend Margaret is also one of the guests. Just like Bea’s ex-boyfriend Jonathan, whom her parents want to get back together with her.
THE CAST OF ANYONE BUT YOU
SYDNEY SWEENEY (BEA)
You may know Sydney Sweeney, who plays sweet Bea in Anybody but You, from Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. You also saw her in the vampire film Night Teeth, in which she starred alongside Megan Fox.
But she became particularly known for her role in the series The White Lotus, for which she was nominated for two Primetime Emmy Awards in 2021.
GLEN POWELL (BEN)
Hardly anyone else embodies the American sunny boy better than Glen Powell. Especially in Top Gun: Maverick, he not only broke the sound barrier as a pilot but also played the self-absorbed macho man with flying colors.
But if you take a closer look at Glen, you’ll realize that behind the beautiful facade, there’s a very likable and funny guy. He now shows this in Anyone but You. Glen was already in front of the camera at the age of 15 in the film Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over. Furthermore, he starred in the critically acclaimed film Hidden Figures.
In The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society he starred alongside Lily James and in The Expendables 3 alongside Silvester Stallone and many others. However, one of Glen’s best films to date is Everybody Wants Some!! with Zoey Deutch and others. By the way, did you know that Zoey is the daughter of Lea Thompson, who we all know as Lorraine Baines from Back to the Future?
HADLEY ROBINSON (HALLE) AND ALEXANDRA SHIPP (CLAUDIA)
New Yorker Hadley Robinson’s career took off in 2019. She starred alongside Sam Rockwell and Michelle Williams in the miniseries Fosse/Verdon and Utopia. We could also see her in Moxie (2021) and The Pale Blue Eye (2022).
Alexandra Shipp is both an actress and singer. The beauty, who comes from Phoenix, Arizona, gained international attention, especially through the film Aaliyah. In this artist portrait, she embodies the Princess of R&B, who died in a tragic plane crash in the Bahamas in 2001 at the age of just 22. Besides, you all know her at least as Writer Barbie, from the film Barbie with Margot Robbie.
CHARLEE FRASER (MARGARET)
For Australian Charlee Fraser, Anyone but You is the first feature film. Her face may still look familiar to you, as she has been featured on the covers of well-known fashion magazines such as Vogue. Charlee is one of the top 50 models. In Anyone but You, she shows on the one hand that her rank as a top model is absolutely reasonable. On the other hand, she shows that she can also cut a good figure in front of the film camera.
THE FAMILY
Claudia’s parents are played by Michelle Hurd and Bryan Brown. Michelle might be familiar to series fans from Law & Order, Gossip Girl, or CSI: Miami. She also appeared in some comedies and horror films like I Spit on Your Grave III.
Bryan Brown is now 76 years old, which you can’t tell from the Australian native. He experienced his international breakthrough as an actor in the 1980s. At that time he played in Give My Regards to Broad Street (1984) alongside the Beatles Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr. However, he became particularly known for movies like F/X, Tai-Pan (both 1986), and Cocktail (1988) with Tom Cruise.
Claudia’s brother Pete is portrayed by the rapper GaTa. As Bea’s father Leo, we see Dermot Mulroney, who has also appeared on the big screen in many films since the late 80s. Among them were blockbusters like Sunset and Young Guns (both 1988), Point of No Return (1993), Scream VI (2023), and around 90 other films. Besides, he also worked as a director and producer and lent his voice to some animated characters.
The Australian Rachel Griffiths, who we can see in Anyone but You as Bea’s mother, Innie, can also be proud of an extensive filmography. Her career started in 1994 with the rom-com Muriel’s Wedding. In 2001 she starred alongside Johnny Depp and Penélope Cruz in Blow. Furthermore, she played in The Hard Word and The Rookie in 2002.
ANYONE BUT YOU REVIEW
For a few years, one could get the impression that, through various campaigns and the stupid misconduct of some, topics such as sex and eroticism were taboo or at least had a very strange status, in films as well as in everyday life. It’s nice that films are now once again addressing eroticism and sex in a light, amusing, and profound way.
This also includes Anyone but You, because there is a lot of naked skin and just as many beautiful people shown in glossy pictures. The film is dripping with kitsch. But that’s not meant negatively. Quite the opposite. Because the kitsch ensures 103 minutes of carefree lightness and a feeling of well-being. Here and then, a little bit of kitsch is healthy and relaxing.
Experiencing the love-hate relationship between Bea and Ben is sometimes extremely funny. The film is aimed at the romantics among us who still believe in true love or have even found it. The fantastic backdrop of Australia contributes significantly to this. The visualization is very beautiful and atmospheric. The actors play well.
THE GUYS
Glen Powell in particular shows his funny side during the entire film. It seems he’s up for any fun. He and Joe Davidson as Beau are responsible for the male sex appeal.
THE GIRLS
Sydney Sweeney, Charlee Fraser, Alexandra Shipp, and Hadley Robinson provide female sex appeal and sensual seduction. In this way, male and female viewers are satisfied at the same time – at least those who would like to be impressed by the actors’ revealing appearance.
THE STYLE
Even though Anyone but You is based on the Shakespeare comedy Much Ado About Nothing, the film can of course neither compete with the works of the great poet nor with sophisticated films. But that wasn’t Sony’s intention or that of Will Gluck, who directed the movie.
Anyone but You is a light comedy and, as such, well worth watching. The film isn’t outrageously funny, but it’s amusing in a nice way. And so just over an hour and a half fly by. We give a good and suitable 6 points and wish you a lot of fun.
Text: Marco Kokkot
Pictures: © Columbia Pictures 2024, Sony 2024. All Rights Reserved.
