"Anyone But You (Valentine's Day Encore Edition)" - Review

Struggling self-conscious law student Bea (Sydney Sweeney, with Kat Dennings energy) is trying to use the toilet at a cafe. She meets himbo Ben (Glenn Powell) in the line, and they hit it off. She spends the night at his house with a grilled cheese sandwich, and they fall asleep after opening their souls to each other. But a misunderstanding next morning leaves both furious with each other, though happy to never meet again. However, fate intervenes when Bea's sister Halle (Hadley Robinson, who looks like Kirsten Dunst) and Ben's best friend Claudia (Alexandra Shipp)) meet, fall in love and invite them to the wedding. Despising each other, the pair will have to put on a show of pretending to be a couple, in order to not ruin the weekend, and simultaneously hook up Ben with his ex girlfriend Margaret (Charlee Fraser) and keep Bea's parents (Rachel Bloody Griffiths and Dermot Bloody Mulroney!) off her back about how she left her perfect ex Jonathan (Darren Barnet, with Dave Franco energy). Sparks fly and worlds collide, into maybe something more...

Director Will Gluck (behind the great "Easy A" and nice enough "Friends With Benefits") is, in the nicest possible way, stuck firmly in the 2010s. The film is highly polished fluff, with no real frills or surprises, and it is sleekly done. It's not as witty as "Easy A", it's not as romantic as "Broken Hearts Gallery", it's not got the electrifying chemistry of "Past Lives": but it doesn't need to. It's a standard romcom retelling of "Much Ado About Nothing" with cute little title cards and quotes throughout, in a rather Will Gluck touch. It works for what it sets out to be: its leads are likable enough (Powell is the stronger of the two, but for the first thing I've seen Sweeney in, she's not bad. Oddly cast maybe, they wanted a Molly Gordon or Emma Stone I think, but she works) and the supporting characters are sweet and kept me chuckling enough to be entertained from scene to scene. There are a couple of gem lines and reactions, and whilst the stakes are exceedingly middle class and lower than the box office returns of "The Flash"; it ticks along sweetly enough. Again, it is not setting out to ignite the world.
I am happy that this is getting word of mouth praise: the concept is sweet enough, and of all things deserving of making money, a script not trying to be "expanded universe" swill, it's cute and honestly endearing and refreshing to see this. I think that nobody is more surprised than the cast: my edition (which has been extended and placed in theatres for longer, because also what else are you going to watch?) came with a wholesome little thank you message at the front from Powell and Sweeney, and a post credits selection of bloopers and rendition of "Unwritten" by Natasha Bedingfield. I was smiling and cheerful throughout the film, and the ending credits are a wonderful celebration of people who just seem happy to be there and making movies, and honestly that is refreshing. I recommend it for what it is! Kudos Mr Gluck and company!
Also, Bryan Brown from "F/X" is in this! Sweet! And it's always nice to see Alexandra Shipp and Dermot Mulroney get more work.