Summary
Anyone But Youfulfills a covert rom-com trilogy by sneaking in a subtle reference to a character Emma Stone played early in her career.The popular romance film is, in fact, chock-full of references, most being towards Shakespeare’s 16th-century play “Much Ado About Nothing,” from whichAnyone But Youis loosely inspired.Anyone But You’srough remakeof the comedic play featuresSydney Sweeney and Glen Powellas Beatrice and Ben, respectively, two rivaling singles who pretend to be in a relationship to appease their loved ones and stick it to their exes.
Beyond theShakespeare referencesAnyone But Youincludes, like names taken from “Much Ado About Nothing” characters and well-timed direct quotes from the play,the movie drops several exciting rom-com and romance film Easter eggs. While some are more prominent than others, nods to the cult classicTitanic, the Cameron Diaz frontedThere’s Something About Mary, and a 2010 rom-com managed byAnyone But You’sdirector Will Gluck were not just identifiable but added an edge of nostalgia to the story. By alluding specifically to Gluck’s previous rom-com contribution, however,Anyone But Youalso completes a fun rom-com trilogy.
Anyone But You
Cast
Anyone But You is a romantic comedy by director Will Gluck starring Sydney Sweeny and Glen Powell. Sweeny and Powell star as Bea and Ben, two strangers with an incredible first date that goes sour following one incident at the tail end. Thinking the worst is behind them, the two are roped into a destination wedding in Sydney, Australia, where they’ll have to pretend to be a couple despite absolutely hating each other.
Emma Stone’s Olive Penderghast Is Included In Easy A, Friends With Benefits & Anyone But You
Olive Penderghast Has Been Busy Traveling The World
BeforeAnyone But You, Gluck directed the 2010 teen romantic comedyEasy A, starring Stone as the scorned high school student Olive Penderghast. Stone proved iconic in the early career role, even snagging a Golden Globe nomination beside established actresses Anne Hathaway (Love & Other Drugs), Angelina Jolie (The Tourist), and Julianne Moore (The Kids Are Alright) for her performance. Stone may have lost out to Annette Bening (The Kids Are Alright) that year, butthe legacy of her character lived on inEasy A’saddictive rewatch value and Gluck’s subsequent rom-com movies,Friends with BenefitsandAnyone But You.
Gluck’s 2011Friends with Benefitswas the first to include Olive, displaying her name on a driver’s sign in one of the movie’s airport scenes. Olive’s name is also apparent on a driver’s sign in theAnyone But Youscene showing Ben and Bea’s arrival at Sydney Airport in Australia. Stone’s character isn’t physically in either movie. Nonetheless, Gluck’s playfulEasy Areferences make it fun to imagine Olive living out a rom-com trilogy where she is thriving and traveling the world after trudging through the petty high school dramaand gossip of her own story.
Gluck also includes Natasha Bedingfield songs in bothEasy AandAnyone But You.
Anyone But You Secretly Creates A Rom-Com Universe With Emma Stone’s $75 Million Movie From 15 Years Ago
Anyone But You has a surprising connection to a fan-favorite 15-year-old Emma Stone romcom that could create a shared cinematic universe.
Emma Stone’s Missing Anyone But You Cameo Ruined Another Rom-Com Trend
Stone Made A Cameo Appearance In Friends With Benefits
WhileAnyone But Yougave audiences a glimpse of Olive, it also ruined its chances of completing a trend among Gluck’s movies.Friends with Benefitstook itsEasy Acallback further by having Stone cameo, albeit as a different character, in a supporting role. Stone featured as Kayla, the ex of leading character Dylan Harper.Anyone But Youhad the perfect opportunity to keep up Stone’s appearances in Gluck’s rom-com moviesand didn’t pull through, but it may have been no fault of its own.
Anyone But You’sproduction started in February 2023 (viaCollider), but well before then - since 2021, to be exact -Stone was caught up with Yorgos Lanthimos' multi-award-winning moviePoor Things. If there was interest in featuring Stone inAnyone But You, it wouldn’t be beyond belief that scheduling conflicts because of her lead role inPoor Things’castimpeded the idea. Regardless,Poor Thingswas more worthwhile thanAnyone But Youcould be for Stone, as it earned her several awards, including the second Golden Globe of her career.
Friends With Benefits
A young man and a woman decide to take their friendship to the next level without becoming a couple, but they soon discover that choosing to have sex without a romantic relationship only involves complications.
Easy A
Inspired by The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne, Easy A stars Emma Stone as Olive Penderghast, a young high school student who suddenly finds herself in the middle of a rumor mill when a lie she tells her best friend about losing her virginity spirals out of control. Penn Badgley, Amanda Bynes, Thomas Haden Church, Patricia Clarkson, and Stanley Tucci are part of the supporting cast.
