All over TikTok, people are constantly mentioning that Anyone But You directed by Will Gluck, starring Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney, is the “greatest rom-com of the century.” Over the past decade, especially in the early 2000’s, rom-coms have thrived as a genre in itself with many big name rom-coms coming from this time. The stigma around rom-coms is that they are predictable but honestly that’s the best part about them. You know the movie will lead to the same outcome over and over but it creates a great experience, it’s just the same story written in different versions and we will always enjoy it no matter what. Some of the most notable of this genre are: The Proposal, How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days, 27 Dresses, Notting Hill, When Harry Met Sally, etc. Nowadays, the movie industry just doesn’t make rom-coms like before…..that is, until this movie.
There were a few movies sprinkled throughout the decade that are good but are not memorable enough to compare to other rom-coms. I mean, How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days is probably the most iconic and recognizable rom com to ever be created. Anyone But You was a spectacular movie, with a phenomenal cast. There were so many great qualities including the cinematography, the witty banter and the amazing chemistry between the two stars. The most popular tropes that the movie follows is loosely an “enemies to lovers” and fake dating. The most heavily seen trope in the movie is faking dating because both characters Bea (Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (Glen Powell) found themselves in the same place at a destination wedding since their first date that ended poorly. They pretend to be in this “perfect couple” to keep up appearances from parents and old relationships through both parties.
The similarities between the plots made people on social media compare the two movies and honestly they are not on the same level. They both are stars in their own form but I honestly do not believe that this comparison is accurate. These two movies do not compare to each other because of how comedic Anyone But You is compared to How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days. Another major difference between the two is the major reasons as to why both couples started their relationship. In How To Lose A Guy in 10 Days, the couple started to date because there was a bet between them on making the other character fall in love with the other; in Anyone But You, the pair started to date because of the “fake-dating” trope to make their ex’s jealous. Comedies, Rom-Coms, and Period pieces are all movies that have hid behind the shadow of blockbuster Action movies for several years. I do believe that Anyone But You is going to reintroduce and reinvent the genre of rom-coms moving forward. This movie was set up to perfection because the people have not and won’t stop talking about it for weeks, maybe even months. Seen through the media, especially on TikTok, everyone seems to have watched this film, targeting demographics mainly being women but with men as well. More specific groups being people in relationships, friends, co-ed friend groups and families. It has placed rom-coms back on the map since the end of its popularity. I think from now on the movie industry will try to continue to create more movies similar to Anyone But You, because it feels that this has brought people together to enjoy a film that is predictable but at the same time quite enjoyable.