Director: Thea Sharrock
Writer: Jojo Moyes (Screenplay) Jojo Moyes (Novel)
Starring: Sam Claflin, Emilia Clarke, Vanessa Kirby, Janet McTeer, Jenna Coleman, Matthew Lewis, Charles Dance, Brendon Coyle
Plot: A girl in a small town forms an unlikely bond with a recently-paralyzed man she’s taking care of.
There may be spoilers the rest of the review
Verdict: Tear Jerker That Leaves a Smile on Your Face
Story: Me Before You starts as we meet successful businessman Will (Claflin) who gets paralyzed in a car accident. We move on to meet sweet, innocent and hardworking Lou (Clarke) who finds herself laid off from her long term job. Searching desperately for a job she takes the job of being the carer for Will.
With Will putting up barriers in his life Lou refuses to let him bring her positive attitude down and need for the money to support her family. As we see the two start to bond the friendship grows that neither of the two could foresee.
When Lou learns of Will desire to end his suffering she comes up with a plan to show him even with his disability he can still enjoy the good things in life.
Me Before You does something different with the story because we watch how one man’s life crumbles down while one girls has never really got started. We do get to see how the two bond and we see how they try to help each other. We do have to take the negatives and that would be the fact the film focuses on ending your own life with euthanasia, the fact most of the film couldn’t happen if Will wasn’t mega rich. The final negative would be that Emilia Clarke is way too beautiful for the role she is in because the character seems to need to be an everyday woman that has flaws. Overall you can see past these facts this is a story that has good moments of laughs and tears going on throughout.
Actor Review
Sam Claflin: Will was once an adventurer daredevil successful business man who gets paralyzed in a traffic accident. Will has closed himself off from the world knowing he will be stuck in a chair for the rest of his life he has enquired about ending his suffering. When Lou enters his life Will starts to open up once again as the two’s friendship grows. Will does come off as a cocky young man who saw the world thinking he would achieve everything and more. Sam is great in this role having to play the difficult role.
Emilia Clarke: Lou is a small town girl always willing to work hard to support her family and enjoying all of the little things in life. She has a unique sense of fashion that clearly makes her stand out in a crowd. Lou’s life is turned upside down when she gets to work as a carer for Will who helps show her the potential her life could have. Emilia does a great job in this role and you can’t fault her acting but choosing one of the most beautiful women in the world for a role that seems to be about a very average woman.
Janet McTeer: Camilla is the mother of Will that hires Lou to care for him. She is supporting his every decision even the difficult one he wants to make. Janet is good in the supporting role but this really is all about the lead pair.
Support Cast: Me Before You has a supporting cast that includes all the different people in our main two characters’ lives be it the nurse, Lou’s family or Lou’s boyfriend. Each member of the supporting cast helps Will and Lou on their voyage of discovery.
Director Review: Thea Sharrock – Thea gives us a near perfect mix of laughs, tears and smiles throughout the whole film.
Drama: Me Before You gives us a story that tackles difficult life decisions as we watch the odd couple fall in love and learn to enjoy life for everything it is meant to be.
Romance: Me Before You starts when the two have to start as complete opposites but learning Lou hasn’t lived the life Will had the two become involved even though they both know the end is coming.
Chemistry: Me Before You has the two start off opposite but soon we see the chemistry between them grow and it shows.
Music: Me Before You uses the music to show each tone each scene is going to be heading in.
Settings: Me Before You has the settings showing us the different worlds both Will and Lou have come from to strike up the unlikely friendship and later relationship.
Suggestion: Me Before You is one I do think you could use for a good date night. (Date Night)
Best Part: Mixing the happy moments with the sad almost perfectly.
Worst Part: I do feel Will’s choice will upset fellow paralyzed people.
Funniest Scene: After the photos are broken.
Romantic Moment: The beach.
Favourite Quote: Will ‘Live boldly. Push yourself. Don’t settle.’
Believability: Certain parts.
Chances of Tears: Yes
Chances of Sequel: No
Post Credits Scene: No
Similar Too: The Fault in Our Stars
Oscar Chances: Maybe one for original songs.
Budget: $20 Million
Runtime: 1 Hour 50 Minutes
Overall: Tear jerking feel good film.
Rating
