Anyone But You: the modern Much Ado About Nothing

 

In December 2023 a film, that has been very successful not only in USA cinemas, but also in those of the rest of the world, was released.

I’m talking about “Anyone but You”, a movie directed by Will Gluck, characterised by comic tones in a romantic context.

In the centre of "Anyone but You" are Bea (played by Sydney Sweeney) and Ben (played by Glen Powell). After a promising and lively first date, they part ways due to some misunderstandings.  Months later, the two meet again, on the occasion of the wedding between her sister and his best friend’s sister. Together with the other guests, Bea and Ben leave for Sydney for a weekend in which, despite their mutual hatred, they pretend to be in love with each other, for different reasons. However, their differences soon resurfaced, putting the entire marriage at risk.

The opening of "Anyone but You" sets the stage for what unfolds later: a charming and cunning protagonist, alongside a beautiful yet awkward counterpart, begin a humorous adventure. This dynamic is shown by a funny accident in a café bathroom. However, the narrative takes an unexpected turn as Will Gluck directs the story towards a comedy of contrasts. Despite both characters being young, wealthy, attractive, and free of significant burdens, their initial encounter sets the stage for apparent tension. Despite their inevitable attraction to each other, they remain unaware of it, with no tangible obstacles to overcome, and everything seemingly in their favour, including the approval of her relatives.

Doesn't this comedy, which relies on misunderstandings and amusing traps, remind us of something?

Analogies can  certainly be found between 'Anyone But You' and its likely inspiration, the theatrical comedy 'Much Ado About Nothing' by William Shakespeare.

 First of all, the plots of the two stories are very similar. 

Emma Thompson and Kenneth Branagh in the 1993 movie adaptation of Shakespeare's Much Ado About Nothing

“Much Ado About Nothing” revolves around two love stories: Claudio and Hero, Benedick and Beatrice. With the latter couple you can immediately recognize the analogy with the names of the protagonists of “Anyone But You” and in both cases we have two people who hate one another after a bitter courtship and are reunited years later.

All of the characters’ names in “Anyone But You” are modern-day spins of the names of characters from “Much Ado About Nothing”. Benedick and Beatrice are transformed into Ben and Bea. Claudio and Hero have now been gender-flipped to become Claudia (Alexandra Shipp) and Halle (Hadley Robinson), representing the other central romance of the story, whose wedding 'Anyone But You' revolves around. Besides, both stories involve a group of people tricking people into falling in love, but the motivations and outcomes are different. Both use the "wiretap crew" of characters who talk so that others can hear.

In “Much Ado About Nothing”, it’s a real trick that works to bring Benedick and Beatrice together. In “Anyone But You”, instead, it is played for comic effect, as it is so obvious for both Ben and Bea, that they essentially get into action. Here, they pretend to be a couple to fool everyone, reversing the narrative in their favour. Yet the result is still the same, as the two eventually fall for each other.

The analogies and similarities found in these two works do not formulate a hypothesis, but go to confirm a real theory also confirmed by the director himself.

Will Gluck stated that he was inspired by the masterpieces of the past and specifically by William Shakespeare, to whom he pays homage with the phrase «Here’s much to do with hate, but more with love», therefore a real declaration of intent.

 Today’s Blogger

 Hello, I'm Beatrice Scifoni, a liceo classico student and an 18-year-old enthusiast with a passion for exploring new horizons and discovering diverse cultures. From a young age, I've been interested in travelling and connecting with people from around the world.

In my spare time I work as a tour guide at the Monastery of San Benedetto in Subiaco, where I find joy in sharing the rich history and cultural heritage with visitors. However, my most cherished experiences come from the lasting friendships I've made with individuals from various nationalities during my time at a NATO military base in Belgium.

I’m glad to be part of Let’s Blog Staff and I hope you’ll enjoy following my posts!