Review of Five Feet Apart (2019) by Greatmartin — 19 Mar 2019

A couple, Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse) meet 'cute' in a hospital. They are both teenagers and both have cystic fibrosis, with Stella awaiting a lung transplant and Will just started on a drug trial for a bacteria he carries that can be lethal for another CF patient. They are, of course, complete opposites with Stella being a control freak, along with being OCD, who has a video blog and Will is a cartoonist and believes in breaking rules just for the sake of breaking them. Oh yes, in case this all sounds familiar Stella has a Gay BBF, Poe (Moises Arias) also with cystic fibrosis, who is the wisecracking comic.

Though "Five Feet Apart" may sound like other young adults with illnesses love story but the director Justin Baldoni and screenwriters, Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Laconis add special touches. Instead of lectures about CF Stella points out most of the must-knows in her vlog with humor and at one point half the audience yelled out "NO!" at what was about to take place. At another point what you expect to happen doesn't---or does it?

In the story is Nurse Barb (Kimberly Hebert Gregory) who really cares for the kids, keeps on eye on them as far as taking meds, wearing masks when they should, following the rules they must and really runs when she has to in emergencies. She, also, keeps them aware of the no touching, staying 6 feet apart (no, that's not a typo error) at all times with director Baldoni introduces a cue stick as a measurement to keep the lovers safe. (No, that's not a spoiler--you know they were going to fall in love!).

The three leads are perfect in their roles with Moises Arias as the gay friend having two high points one being very funny with Will accusing Poe of being in love with Stella and later explaining one of the major fallbacks of an illness that isn't often thought of in this kind of movie. Haley Lu Richardson brings humor and gravitas to her ever-optimistic though a strict with herself patient who is carrying a secret that I didn't get until it was spoken. Cole Sprouse is a handsome actor who has a very annoying hairstyle and not necessarily the chemistry he should have with Richardson but he has the charm to win over everyone, including the audience. Everyone should have a nurse like Nurse Barb/Gregory.

There are shots that you will think are not following the rule about staying a certain distance apart but the direction shows what seems a closeup is really the angle of the camera.

"Five Feet Apart" has the drama you would expect in a movie of this sort and as far as I can tell there wasn't a dry eye in the movie during a few scenes but it also has humor, tenderness, a learning experience about cystic fibrosis without lecturing and an optimistic feel. For those who don't watch television, it will also introduce you to 3 stars of tomorrow. The bottom line is that "Five Feet Apart" is a good movie and more worth seeing than what else is available.