Review of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) by Kevin A — 19 Jun 2015

Thoroughly original, inventive, quirky, funny and thought provoking, this insightful gem of a coming of age film is not to be missed. Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon brings a fresh perspective to the horrors of high school, adolescense, nagging nerdy parents and friendship in its many forms.

Guilted by his mother into hanging out with Rachel (Olivia Cooke) who's just been diagnosed with leukemia, Greg (Thomas Mann) hasn't a clue how to make a friend let alone be one. His HS bro/pal/co-worker is Earl (smartly played by R.

J. Cyler) and they choose to avoid most everyone in HS except their favorite teacher, Mr. McCarthy (outlandishly portrayed by Jon Bernthal with neck tatts and a Zen attitude). Comic relief in a bathrobe and slippers is Greg's dad, a "tenured sociology professor" (Nick Offerman from Parks & Rec) who is always home cooking up some bizarre.

disgusting sounding edible (scuttle fish jerky, lamb brains ala mode). The director's shot composition is original (two leads talking while facing straight ahead on screen but at each margin prompting the viewer to ping pong as the dialogue progresses).

If you remember SNL's Mr. Bill clay-mation shorts, there is much to admire here as well. The two bro's, Greg and Earl have a hobby of making trashy, awful amateur films parodies of classic films (Apocolypse Wow, Death in Tennis, Eyes Wide Butt, A Sockwork Orange) that nobody is shown.

This is a delightful alternative to mega budget, CGI-centric tentpole films. Originals like this should be encouraged. Finally original music is by Brian Eno and the soundtrack is loaded with gems for the ear as well.