Starting February 9th, movie theaters re-released Anyone But You through the Valentine Encore, which provides exclusive content and extra footage. The movie, originally released in December of 2023, showcases the love story between Bea and Ben, played by Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell respectively. Online sources state that the February edition included messages from the cast and a few lines that didn’t make the final cut.
Anyone But You is a romantic-comedy film that hit theaters this past December. Law student Bea meets Ben by chance at a coffee shop, and the two immediately hit it off. Spending the whole day and even the night together, it seems the two have developed feelings. However, a misunderstanding causes them to foster disdain for the other, and they don’t run into each other for six months. Through a mutual connection, they meet again as members of the same wedding party. They find it difficult to hide their resentment toward each other and get into numerous scuffles. However, in the time they spend in close proximity, they begin to rediscover their feelings for each other. In experiencing the two’s roller coaster of emotions, the whole wedding party is shaken and threatens to fall apart.
The movie draws inspiration from William Shakespeare’s Much Ado About Nothing in terms of major plot points. Themes of matching-making, scheming, and meddling definitely made their way into Anyone But You, but the 2023 film was void of Renaissance drama. One thing that people were quick to point out was that, though being a modern Shakespearean adaptation, there wasn’t an overwhelming point of modernization incorporated into the plot. Many modern renditions of older narratives tend to utilize technology to drive the idea of a contemporary take on a familiar concept, but the movie didn’t focus a lot on interactions exchanged digitally or through cell phones.
I got a lot of spoilers through social media, so I went in with decent expectations, which were definitely met. I particularly liked the incorporation of the song “Unwritten” by Natasha Bedingfield, which has recently been blowing up on TikTok because of this movie. It added a sentimental element that emotionally connected the main couple. Sweeney and Powell have been praised for their chemistry together as the main couple. Additionally, many have favorable things to say about the supporting cast including Darren Barnet, Alexandra Shipp, and Dermot Mulroney.
As a rom-com and a modern Shakespeare adaptation, the movie has generated mixed reviews. Opinions on the cast’s acting and the quality of the script have been debated amongst the audience. However, in terms of numbers, the film has accumulated over $200 million globally.
“A sleeper hit at the box office, the film is a ‘healthy sign’ for the romantic comedy genre and other mid-budget Hollywood flicks,” said Scott Meslow. The film has reached number one at the box office and has made its place in the romance-comedy genre. While reviews amongst the audience vary, the numerical success and impact of Anyone But You speaks for itself.
