Review of Me Before You (2016) by Pipec — 22 Jul 2016

Moyes & Sharrock Expel Romanticism In A Hard-Hitting Love Story.

Big expectations waited of the best-selling book adaptation of Jojo Moyes on the big screen, attributing it the label of dramatic film of the date, after the emotional "The Fault in Our Stars" broke hearts around the world; surely, you will require a box of tissues, nevertheless, the film does not provoke enough tears for utilize more than one. The romantic film goes through a fatiguing period, tired of the renowned "clichés" of the genre; implausible is find feature romance films like the stories written by the talented Nicholas Sparks - " The Choice ", his last invention does not achieved good receptions -, apparently, this film genre will be condemned to the adaptations or reboots of Hollywood, nevertheless, occasionally, small underutilized gems come to light.

Emilia Clarke - Yes, the blonde girl of "Game of Thrones" and Sarah Connor of the massacred "Terminator Genisys" last year - plays Louisa "Lou" Clark, a eccentric young lady, who lives with her working-class parents. Lou loses her job in the coffee shop of the village, which puts her in a delicate matter, lack of money. Her only employment oportunity is to be caretaker of a 30-year-old man suffering paralysis of the shoulders down - owing to a motorcycle accident -, that handsome man with sense of black humor, sarcastic attitude, million euro in his bank account, hardened heart, and possessor of a perfect smile is Will Traynor (Sam Claflin has acuity to make to cry ( remember to Finnick Odair of "The Hunger games"). With a black and white striped coat, dresses with butterflies and vegetables, psychedelic heels and other strangenesses of the fashion, Lou invades in the life of Will to superficially transform his thoughts, thoughts decided to practice his assisted suicide at a clinic in Switzerland. Striking, cloying and sentimental plot, dispenser of laughs, tears and doctrines do not focused.

"Me Before You" does not get away of the habitual absurdities of a romance novel, perfect for lovers of the genre, but tedious and repetitive for the general public. Despite the exhausted use of romantic elements, Moyes, Neustadter and Weber know to place and represent every triviality harmoniously, the first kiss, Clark shaving to Will, a powerful storm behind the female lead role and even avoid some recurrences to innovate with own circumstances and phrases (Bumblebee Tights). Repeatedly, we have seen impossible loves owing the difference of social classes, and although the difference of status is present, the film is focused in another type of differences. The script fulfills the demands of any woman in love with chocolate and popcorn, nevertheless, objectively, it violates the real context with impossibilities and events of tales of fairy, hiding the suffering with the beauty, the reality with pink unicorns e hippopotamus, and until certain point is refreshing and requested for the genre, nevertheless, it is its sensitive subject in the ending, which be really affected by the strategy , and therefore, it affects the film in general.

Thea Sharrock - writer and film and English theater director - follows the story of the book to the letter, neglecting necessary and original ideas. Who do you wish to listen to Ed Sheeran, while you are on the verge of tears? Pop music atmosphere is profound and even memorable (Not Today by Imagine Dragons), unfortunately, these are located in incorrect times, destabilising the balance and the process of the scene. Furthermore of its youthful soundtrack, the performances hold firm progress of the story, Clarke does not exaggerate her character, and if she does, it has satisfactory effects and thanks to her beautiful and infectious laughter, development gets a decent progress. Caflin is a bit more discreet and without Clarke as Lou, it would have been a matter of seconds. Nevertheless, it is the swift development of a controversial issue which absorbs the negative criticisms. In the plot, Will is decided to die with dignity, (Spoiler: and he did it), the film portrays the life of disabled people as "different" and in certain part it is, nevertheless, the lightness with that they deal the ending is as necessary as negative. Necessary, because they do not turn to the romantic drama of the path towards death, but negative, because they insinuates that the days of a disabled person are useless and the best solution is suicide. "Me Before You" has the function of telling a love story, the film did not want to meddle in dangerous waters, but, unfortunately, it did it.

"Me Before You" benefits from the chemistry of its protagonists, the idealized environments and some lines worthy of Spark, but the futility of euthanasia in the film, destroys the built and paves the way for finding some errors more. With the quality of the romance films of today, "Me Before You" is a tempting and sentimental proposal, full of corny-romanticism, teaching rewarding lessons as go on, live each moment and question the unexpected turnaround of life.