In the first ten years of the 21st century, Romantic Comedy movies were being produced like clockwork. These movies were designed to tug at the audience’s heartstrings and illustrate unrealistic yet captivating love stories. This method succeeded as they were the staple of Hollywood and brought much discussion to up-and-coming actors and actresses who starred in these movies. Some of these movies include 10 Things I Hate About You (1999), 50 First Dates (2004), Love Actually (2003), The Notebook (2004), etc.
These rom-coms set a precedent for movie directors all over the world. However, after the 2000s, directors took a break from producing these beloved movies. Movie viewers were left to watch other genres for almost 15 years.
On December 22, 2023, the new hit rom-com Anyone But You was released. This movie sent shock waves through the rom-com and love story lovers. The film has already made $100 million in box office sales. Starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, viewers of all ages were excited to watch, as this movie was set to be modeled after an original rom-com. It broke all the barriers.
The film starts with a night that is one to remember: Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) meet in a coffee shop and have natural chemistry. They connect after a trip around the city and end with a night together. They eat grilled cheese, which later becomes a symbol of their love. The night ends and a miscommunication leads them to believe they both regret the night, but neither does.
After months of separation, they are invited to Bea’s sister and Ben’s best friend’s wedding in Australia, where they stumble into each other and all emotions come rushing back. They bicker constantly, but still with an underlying tension.
The other family members make many attempts to get them back together, so the two finally agree to a fake relationship to fool everyone. After many pre-wedding events, Bea and Ben get very close and have what looks to be a genuine relationship. For the rehearsal dinner, the whole family takes a boat ride. Ben and Bea act out a scene in Titanic and fall into the bay. After much chaos, they are rescued by an airplane. Once they arrive home, they make grilled cheese, solidifying their relationship. After the night together, they get into an argument that ruins their relationship for the second time.
However, after a final attempt, Ben makes a romantic gesture and jumps out of a helicopter to win Bea’s heart back. He tells her that he is in love with her and they kiss in front of the Sydney Opera House. This grand gesture makes romantic comedies so enticing, immediately capturing the audience’s hearts. This rom-com left viewers craving more, and it was a hit for the first time in years.
