Two of the recurring concerns of modern cinema relate to the shortage of movie stars and romance. Certainly, in the mainstream landscape, the superhero monopoly has nearly wiped out thepower of the movie star and sexual appeal.All of our actors in mainstream movies have never looked prettier or been in better shape, and yet, the big screen has never felt more sterile. The kinds of actors that should be elevated to stardom are confined to the restrictions of the franchise they represent. During promotion for his filmMagic Mike’s Last Dance, a film that quenches the thirst for sexiness in movies,Steven Soderberghasked"how are we going to make new movie stars if people’s primary motivation for going to the movies is the IP, not the actors?" To the detriment of adult-oriented audiences,movie stars have devolved into action figures, designed to be exceptionally fit but are lacking in any romantic draw. This crisis calls for the emergence of a modern Romantic-Comedy king, which is a genre that needs a proper revival on the big screen so it can pump some sexiness back into male stars. Enter,Glen Powell, who stars in a new Rom-Com alongsideSydney Sweeney,Anyone but You, which opens in theaters on December 22.
Anyone but You, the new Rom-Com byWill Gluck(director ofEasy A), remained under wraps from the public for an extended period. From the outside, the film, a sexy R-rated Rom-Com with two young stars, promises to satisfy what audiences have been clamoring for. The story is believed to be a modernized adaptation of theWilliam Shakespearecomedy,Much Ado About Nothing, as it follows two combative people unexpectedly reuniting at a destination wedding in Australia. The two, Bea (Sweeney) and Ben (Powell), who once had a brief romantic fling, pose as a couple at the wedding to appear more adult-like. A loose structure hints thatAnyone but Youwill be focused on thechemistry and charm between Powell and Sweeney.Perhaps the film has taken on too loose of an approach, as its teaser trailer suggested that the story entailed a man’s Hitchcockian encounter with a fiendish femme fatale. However, the official trailer, which was released on November 16, leaned into the standard beats of romantic comedies.
Anyone But You
After an amazing first date, Bea and Ben’s fiery attraction turns ice cold - until they find themselves unexpectedly reunited at a destination wedding in Australia. So they do what any two mature adults would do: pretend to be a couple.
Glen Powell Has Leading Man Potential
Powellunveiled his talents on the mainstream stageand proved his chops as a leading man inTop Gun: Maverickas “Hangman.” Powell is majestic in his figure, not to mention traditionally handsome and picturesque. It would be a shame if studios only chose to exploit his good looks and disregard his personality. In an ideal world, Powell would never get sucked into the plethora of franchises, but that is way easier said than done.
There is nothing wrong with the draw towards leading men with a statuesque physique. The problem lies when that characteristic isexclusively fixated on for the purpose of selling merchandiseas part of a line of superheroes. Unfortunately, for executives of comic book movie franchises, it may be a lost cause. Stars will continue to be sexless action figures as long as the profits roll through the door. This is where the void of a proper romantic male lead icon comes in.
‘Set It Up’ Showed That Glen Powell Is Perfect for Rom-Coms
Glen Powell is still enough of an untapped resource to seamlessly slide into the role of a rom-com king. The 34-year-old actor broke out in the 2015-16 range with notable roles in the Fox seriesScream QueensandRichard Linklater’s coming-of-age comedyEverybody Wants Some!!His breakthrough part in the latter is the Rosetta Stone to his potential mega-stardom. The part of Walt Finnegan, the hot-shot captain of the baseball squad and party-seeker, was written as the standout shining star, and Powell capitalized on it.
Powell then starred opposite hisEverybody Wants Some!!co-starZoey DeutchinSet It Up, a rom-com for Netflix, and this is where the momentum churned for Powell to take over as the new face of the genre. What appeared to be a rudimentary story of hesitant lovers was viewed more favorably by critics and audiences thanks to the discovery of Powell and Deutch as romantic leads.Linklater’s upcoming film,Hit Man,which was purchased by Netflix, is set to release in 2024 with Glen Powell as the lead.
How Could Glen Powell Breathe New Life Into the Rom-Com Genre?
Glen Powell checks all the boxes of an ideal male face of rom-coms and ultimately, a true movie star. He possesses the innate qualities to traditionally appeal to all demographics. Movies targeted towards adults in the last decade have seemingly abandoned the idea of overtly appealing to a unisex audience. Powell is modern enough to attract newer audiences andkeep rom-coms fresh, but still classical enoughto make the genre feel like a refreshing return to the glory days. The genre is commonly relegated to streaming, partially because it has been limited as a pipeline for developing new stars. Only when familiar faces likeGeorge ClooneyandJulia Robertspair up for a film likeTicket to Paradisedoes the genre obtain a wide theater release, and succeed financially as a result.
Julia Roberts Is Better in Thrillers Than Rom-Coms. There, I Said It!
America’s sweetheart, who stars in Sam Esmail’s Netflix thriller ‘Leave the World Behind’ with Ethan Hawke, is a lot tougher than you think.
While Powell is still a relative unknown from the perspective of a household name,he has previously worked in a variety of genres, from an indie Richard Linklater hangout movie to action-adventure pictures likeMaverickand his other 2022 outing,Devotion. In all of his performances, Powell has demonstrated ayouthful bravado that could breathe fresh lifeinto any middling romantic comedy. His Texas upbringing gives him that southern warmth that, generally speaking, satisfies theinterests of both men and women.
We Need More Movie Stars and Rom-Coms!
It is not as though the fate of filmmaking rests on the shoulders ofGlen Powell’s potential to emergeas the breakthrough rom-com male lead. However, the void in the film landscape that he is best served to fill is integral to thereclamation of movie stars and healthy depictions of sexualityon the big screen. In fact, the problem does not lie in the current crop of acting and movie star talent. Stars who emerged in the 21st century had the capability to sell a movie on the heels of their charisma, but they wereswallowed up by the capitalist demands of franchise filmmaking.
There is undoubtedly a reignited post-Pandemic movie-going audience that craves a traditional form of Hollywood entertainment, one that utilizes a star’s physical and personable appeals. Promising box office returns in 2022 for the aforementionedTicket to ParadiseandThe Lost Cityare indicative of a desire for classical sensibilities, andthe genre is ripe for a new star. Before he gets lured by the prospects of cape cinema, Glen Powell deserves to take the mantle as the next face of the modern romantic-comedy, and perhaps the future line of movie stars at large.
Anyone but Youopens in theaters on June 21, 2025
