Glen Powell’s “Anyone But You” Costar Dermot Mulroney Gave Him Rom-Com Advice: ‘Don’t Be Ashamed’ (Exclusive)

Mulroney starred opposite Julia Roberts in the classic 1997 romantic comedy 'My Best Friend's Wedding' and has a supporting role in 'Anyone But You'

Dermot Mulroney offered his Anyone But You costar Glen Powell some words of wisdom regarding romantic comedies.

In the new issue of PEOPLE, Powell, 35, says that Mulroney, who starred opposite Julia Roberts in the 1997 classic My Best Friend’s Wedding, had a heart-to-heart with him about being the male lead in these types of films, telling him not to be “ashamed.”

When Mulroney made the romantic comedy, about a woman (Roberts) who tries to sabotage the relationship between her bestie (Mulroney) and his young fiancée (Cameron Diaz), “I don't think he realized this is going to be one of the things he's known for,” says Powell.

Continues Powell, “He said, ‘Don't be ashamed of being a man in a rom-com. To represent love in movies is the most beautiful thing you can take on.’”

That advice, “really made me think completely different about the experience,” continues Powell. “My Best Friend's Wedding is kind of a real tonal comp to this movie. A lot of people after they watch our movie say it's a lot like My Best Friend's Wedding.”

Related: Anyone But You: Everything to Know About Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney's Rom-Com

In Anyone But You, Powell stars as charming finance bro Ben, who has a meet-cute with Boston University law student Bea (Sydney Sweeney) at a coffee shop.

After their first (and only) date goes south, they later find themselves headed to the same destination wedding Down Under.

To prevent their well-intentioned loved ones (including Bea’s parents, played by Mulroney and Rachel Griffiths) from meddling in their personal lives, Ben and Bea decide to put on a show-mance and pretend to be a couple for the getaway.

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“I personally like the laugh-cry at the end of the movie,” says Powell. “Crying and laughing at the same time. I think our movie delivers on that. I think all the great rom-coms deliver on that feeling. If you can get an audience to the laugh cry at the end of a movie, you're doing all right.”

Mulroney seems eager to make viewers laugh-cry again. At the New York premiere of Anyone But You Monday, the actor told Entertainment Tonight he’d be up for a sequel to My Best Friend’s Wedding.

Related: Watch Glen Powell and Sydney Sweeney Pretend They're In Love in New Anyone But You Trailer

“Yeah, no, I'm in!" Mulroney said. "I'm thrilled to hear Julia's finally, you know, coming to her senses.”

His answer came after Roberts mentioned she’d like to revisit that rom-com during recent appearances on Watch What Happens Live and CBS Mornings.

"I was amazed to hear her kind compliments this weekend," Mulroney continued to Entertainment Tonight. "You know I would love to work with her any day of the week, month or year."

Anyone But You is in theaters Dec. 22.

For more on Glen Powell, pick up the new issue of PEOPLE.

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