Stop me if you've heard this one: clumsy smart girl and kind but aloof guy hook up but due to a misunderstanding hate one another until they don't. Both are ridiculously hot and don't kiss until the script says they are supposed to. Mix in some quirky friends, a romantic locale, and a dog. What you get is one of the most charming romantic comedies I've seen in a while.

At this point I normally summarize the movie, then give my general thoughts on the acting, directing, and story. Fuck that. I liked this movie. It's by the numbers romcom, but oozes sincerity and a happy vibes all around. There's moments where things might go a little dull, some acting that is covered by most of the cast in swimsuits, but overall we need more of these kinds of cheerful flicks.

Because I don't wanna go into overanalyzing, here's some notes I took while watching.

Spoilers beware

Fucks and tits (suprise dick)

An actual R-rated adult comedy. I figured there would be the usual juvenile dick and fart humor (it's there) but for the most part this movie is about adults who are wildly attractive who often take their clothes off. Not fully most of the time, but I'm surprised at how much I'm surprised by this. It fulfils the old saying "naked is not having clothes on, nekkid means you're up to something" by having just enough skin to have fun.

(That’s a Lewis Grizzard quote. He was a humorist in the 80s and 90s, but also an older Southern guy with many conservative values that did not age well. Reader beware.)

"It's a radio play, motherfucker"

The supporting cast, let's be honest, are exposition machines. Based on Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing, there's plenty of machinations by at least one side of the family to get these kids together if only so they don't spoil the wedding everyone is attending. A lot of it is silly, but the people involved sell it. Especially GaTa who gets most of the biggest laughs with his asides.

Sincere and honest

I actually wanted these two to get together. Like I looked up after if Sydney Sweeney and Glenn Powell were gonna make super adorable babies. They each have relatable issues that keep them apart, but when they actually talk (a romcom wherein people communicate but still have issues, huh) the characters do connect and care for one another beyond wanting to take off what little clothes they wear.

Full on Titanic

The boat scene, from the dance to the buoy to singing on a helicopter, made my day. I liked seeing them dance, seeing the family react to the corny shit, and seeing them come together while in peril. It's a bunch of mini-scenes that tie together these two without feeling inorganic to the story. And they went "full on Titanic" getting in the water, a line that made me laugh.

Runs to find her

I know it's overused in romantic comedies. You know it's overused in romantic comedies. But fuck it, one partner chasing down the other to profess their love… Man that shit hits. Part of me wonders why. Do we all want to be chased or to chase, to give that grand dramatic gesture that says "I actually ran to find you." Or is running, out of breath running to find someone symbolic of love in general? I dunno, but it works.

Take someone somewhere

A little running line is that her dad hurt himself getting on a bus to see the Eiffel Tower with her mom, still going because she wanted to see it. My dad passed away a few months ago, and that was my parents love language. One of them would ask to go, to do, to have an experience, and the other would make it happen. It made me cry a little.

Anyone But You (2023) is the half nekkid romcom you should see in the theater