Taylor Watches Rom-Coms Vol. 8

The good, the bad, and the beautiful (because there's never any ugly in these movies)

It’s time for another edition of Taylor Watches Rom-Coms. This month, we’ve got a movie you can see in theaters, a movie you can see on a plane, and a movie you can see on your old DVD.

Anyone But You (2023)

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.

I love the classic literature to rom-com pipeline. She's the Man, 10 Things I Hate About You, Clueless - I eat it up every damn time. Partially, it's nostalgia-induced. These adaptations were everywhere in the early 2000s and well into the 2010s. As an adult with a theatre background, it's partially personal interest. But no matter the reason, consider me SAT. 

A Much Ado About Nothing-inspired flick, Anyone But You is certifiably adorable and fun, (as is the source material!) I will be completely honest and say that this movie is definitely not perfect. Some could argue that it's not even very good. The fact of the matter is, that you will hate it if you choose to nitpick it. But if you let the imperfections wash over you, it's a worthwhile treat. You have to prepare for a healthy dose of cringe, but an even healthier dose of all the things that make you read this column - love and laughs! This is not Sydney Sweeney or Glen Powell's tour-de-force, but it's also literally Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell in a love-hate relationship looking hot in Australia, so what more could you want?

Crazy, Stupid, Love. (2011)

Cal Weaver is living the American dream. He has a good job, a beautiful house, great children and a beautiful wife, named Emily. Cal’s seemingly perfect life unravels, however, when he learns that Emily has been unfaithful and wants a divorce. Over 40 and suddenly single, Cal is adrift in the fickle world of dating. Enter, Jacob Palmer, a self-styled player who takes Cal under his wing and teaches him how to be a hit with the ladies.

You know it. Chances are, if you read this column, you love it. But…when was the last time you saw it?

I haven’t seen this movie in years, probably almost a full decade, but I think about it with a frequency I’m embarrassed to admit. If you asked me to name a few great rom-coms of the early 2010s, this would probably come to mind first or at least pretty quickly. But has it held up? 

I spent the first 20 minutes of my most recent rewatch thinking, “Oh god - it’s bad, isn’t it? Have I spent ten years thinking about a movie that’s just straight-up bad? Does it get better..? Am I a rom-com reviewing hack?” 

But I quickly decided, in an effort to circumvent these feelings, to treat it as a period piece. 2011 was not that long ago, but it was also a long time ago when you think about how film and pop culture have evolved in that time. I’m not going to sit here and say that there are (many) parts of this movie that aged like milk, but if you can try to look past it, I do think it’s a solid movie. 

I’m a sucker for large ensemble movies where multiple plots converge (Valentine’s Day and Love Actually come to mind), and this does that very well. I do wish I could go back and relive the reveal because I think it’s a great moment and knowing the lead-up just doesn’t hit quite the same. 

Distinctly 2010s, it feels almost nostalgic. Emma Stone hadn’t been Yorgos Lanthimos-ified, Ryan Gosling was trying out all the genres but still prevailed as Really Hot Guy, and, leaving The Office this same year, Steve Carrell still pulled off being a schmuck and wasn’t the sexy silver fox we know him as today. 

Are there better movies in this genre now? Definitely. But is this inherently bad for being a product of his time? I don’t think so, but you’ll have to decide for yourself. 

You Hurt My Feelings (2023)

A novelist’s longstanding marriage is suddenly upended when she overhears her husband giving his honest reaction to her latest book.

Delta In-Flight Entertainment strikes again!

Communication is hard. Finding the balance between support and criticism is hard. Relationships are hard. This movie expertly displays all of these things while always leading with heart. 

It is so refreshing to see a movie about a mature, happy, married couple working through something without divorce ever being put on the table. Not every fight needs to lead to a threat of calling it quits, and not every mid-life crisis or intense period of reflection has to include throwing everything away. 

One of the best romantic comedies of last year, You Hurt My Feelings features a stellar cast that consistently knocks it out of the park. It is perfect parts witty, laugh-out-loud funny, tender, and earnest. A must-see if you’re looking for something a little different than your average rom-com. 

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Credit: Each plot synopsis comes from Letterboxd via TMDb.

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