Movie Review: Me Before You

It should probably be noted that, before going to see this film, the trailer and the fact that it was based on a best-selling novel brought up images of seeing The Fault in Our Stars (2014). While that film was fine on its own merits (and certainly a tearjerker in its own right), it struck me that another film should be only two years on its heels, ready to steal the same general plot and rehash it to earn a few more quick dollars. Imagine my surprise when the film ended and I realized it was an entirely different experience. Though I am far from the intended audience for a film like this, it was strange to watch a movie about this kind of romance and have it be…well, almost totally lighthearted from beginning to end, despite its overtones.

Will Traynor (Sam Claflin) is a man of many talents and, until a fateful day in which he is involved in a motorcycle incident and rendered quadriplegic, unable to move little more than his neck and a couple of fingers. Enter Lou Clark (Emilia Clarke), a young lady from an out-of-work family, who wanders life with a smile on her face no matter what comes her way. Thinking this new caretaker is no different from the rest, Will does his best to make her job difficult, but her stubbornness (and need to keep her job to keep her family afloat) intrigues him, and the two eventually strike up a friendship. But when Lou learns that Will is growing tired of his condition, she makes a plan to show him the finer things in life. But he has just as much to show her about living life to its fullest.

While the film does trot out a few of the tropes endemic of the genre (a mid-movie sickness, a good-natured boyfriend who does not realize what a goof he is), what is surprising is how the movie avoids many of the genre’s pitfalls as well. Sure, it has its tearful moments, but the movie is delightfully funny as well, with many quotable moments and a sense of humor that normally is missing from these proceedings. In many ways, it is more comedy than drama and, even in its darker moments, remains light and airy. On the other hand, it also makes those tearful moments less impactful; its overall cheery tone makes the more serious themes of the film seem easier to gloss over.

Still and all, Clarke and Claflin go together brilliantly; more so than simply working together as romantic leads, they seemed to be genuinely enjoying themselves during the production, and it all adds up to a movie that, oddly, makes you feel good watching it. Of course, one element is certainly not quite “feel good,” and may not sit well with some people in the audience; regardless, the film handles this delicately and tackles the subject without necessarily making it controversial.

Regardless of your romantic tastes, Me Before You is an interesting and warm addition to the genre. While its twists and turns may not be all that surprising, how it puts it all together is a different story. The leads are charming, the supporting cast all get their due (especially a nice turn by Matthew Lewis as Patrick, though Harry Potter fans are not likely to forget him as Neville Longbottom just yet), and the locations are beautifully shot. Just be warned: you may not need your tissues held quite as close as the trailers may lead you to believe.

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Seth Paul

When not failing to write novels and screenplays, box-office guru Seth writes humorous comedy tracks for films under the name "The One Man Band" that can be found at Rifftrax.com. Although, he has recently succeeded in writing the novella "Jack Alan and the Case of the Not-Exactly Rocket Scientists," available as an eBook on Amazon. He is also the English voice of Zak in "Zak McKracken: Between Time and Space."

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