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.
Sydney Sweeney
Bea
Glen Powell
Ben
Mia Artemis
Barista
Nat Buchanan
Miranda Clerk
GaTa
Pete
Alexandra Shipp
Claudia
Hadley Robinson
Halle
Dermot Mulroney
Leo
Rachel Griffiths
Innie
Deborah Faye Lee
Flight Attendant
Lance Kerfuffle
Peter Gluck
Taryn Gluck
Olivia von Stauffenberg
Alexandra Gluck
Mafalda von Stauffenberg
Summer Tian
Mother at Airport
Dan Liu
Father at Airport
Davina Chan Gallagher
Daughter at Airport
Charlee Fraser
Margaret
Joe Davidson
Beau
Bryan Brown
Roger
Michelle Hurd
Carol
Darren Barnet
Jonathan
Mariama Whitton
Superyacht Crew Member
Ryan Panizza
Superyacht Crew Member
Talayna Moana Nikora
Harbour Patrol Heli Responder
Beau Karolos
Harbour Patrol Driver
Ben Heber
Dogberry Clerk
Director, Screenplay
Will Gluck
Screenplay, Story
Ilana Wolpert
December 30, 2023
7
Despite myself, I actually quite enjoyed this. After (what looked like) a platonic one night stand, "Bea" (Sydney Sweeney) and "Ben" (Glen Powell) manage to part company loathing one another. Serendipity has no intention of allowing this to be the end of things though, and so arranges for her sister to marry one of his best friends. After a few uncomfortable meetings in a bar, they all head off to Australia for the nuptials. Her parents are very keen to get her back with ex "Jonathan" (Darren Barnet) whilst his ex "Margaret" (Charlee Fraser) is also there. Against their better judgment our two decide to pretend to be a couple to provoke envy from one and protect the other from the intent of the meddling parents. What now ensues does really depend on a plausible degree of chemistry between Sweeney and Powell and I thought they did quite well. A little bit more meddling from Bryan Brown, some Di Caprio-esque action at the front of a yacht and some kindly support from the Sydney harbour rescue helicopter helps keep this amiably jogging along for an admittedly twenty minutes too long 1¾ hours. It's quite pithily written and manages to avoid the worst in both American and Australian stereotypes. It also isn't shy of sex, comic nudity and a bit of practical adult humour that makes a change from the usual puerile smut we are so frequently offered nowadays. It's entirely forgettable, but is an enjoyable enough dollop of sun, sea, sex and silliness.