Review of Me Before You (2016) by Johnny T — 23 Dec 2016

Me Before You benefits from Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin's alluring chemistry, although it isn't enough to compensate for its clumsy treatment of a sensitive subject. This floppy British romance, directed by Thea Sharrock and adapted by Jojo Moyes from her best-selling novel, sits at the point where tedium, ridiculousness and heartfelt sentiment converge, separated by an all-but-imperceptible distance. Despite its $20-million budget, Me Before You is cheap; and just like a person who has more money than he knows what to do with, this film equates wealth with value and vulnerability with death. Schmaltzy when it should be moving, phoney when it should be sincere, and borderline offensive when it should be thought-provoking, the high-profile rom-com Me Before You is almost a perfect cinematic calamity. The overbearing lack of subtlety and nuance is accentuated by Emilia Clarke's tone-deaf performance - a far cry from her commanding presence in Game of Thrones. Me Before You might have been a profound movie, but it instead goes for an easy marketing niche, copying a template that has previously proven successful with female moviegoers of a certain age range. For those who have ever wondered what might happen if the sadistic billionaire Christian Grey broke his back during an acrobatic sex session and ended up in a wheelchair, a new romcom, Me Before You, bizarrely provides the answer.

VERDICT: "Not So Hot" - [Negative Reaction] These films are truly terrible films. They are not the worst things ever made, but they are definitely awful and should not be seen by anyone. (Films that are rated 1.5 or 2 stars).