Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? If you’re into the genre.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? Definitely.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 113 minutes (~2 hours)
“Miss You Already is a British-American dramedy. It explores the impact of cancer on middle-aged woman, and shows how her best friend and family member deal with it. It stars Toni Collette (Milly), Drew Barrymore (Jess), Dominic Cooper (Kit), and Paddy Considine (Jago). It is rated NC-16.
“Miss You Already” takes a fairly stereotypical premise (what with all the Nicholas Sparks movies and derivatives) and gives it a fresh treatment by focusing on the aspects that are often glossed over in similar films. This makes all the difference, since it explores uncommon territory and allows for unique perspectives that have otherwise been untapped. It puts you through the emotional wringer, but not for the reasons you’d expect.
Highlights
Painful depiction of cancer
The film takes a detailed and agonising look at all the moments in cancer and chemotherapy that would otherwise be overlooked in similar movies. The bruises, scars and sacrifices are all treated to long, lingering shots in silence, even as the rest of the world continues on around Milly. It’s this rough and raw treatment of the topic, combined with the juxtaposition of the sick Milly and her healthy loved ones, that makes it so hard to watch her slowly succumb to her cancer.
Milly’s character flaws
She’s not the typical longsuffering patient that doesn’t deserve the fate that has been thrust upon her. Milly makes some terrible decisions in the course of the movie, which can’t all be attributed to her illness. These mistakes are what make her so different and so human as a character, when we see her suffer mentally as well as physically. Her actions aren’t irredeemable though, and while she does manage to resolve her issues, the emotional scars continue for the rest of the film.
Kit’s struggle
Milly’s imperfections take their toll on her husband, Kit, and he reacts to them in a way that makes us truly empathise with him. In a way, he’s just as much of a hero as Milly is, and it shows the burden that both of them have to bear, especially since they also have children to care for. Kit tries his hardest to deal with everything that happens to him and Milly, but whether that is enough depends on his personal growth in the movie. His vulnerability and failings are what make his character just as interesting to watch as Milly.
Symbolism of the life events between Milly and Jess
Jess has a similarly life altering event that poetically matches Milly’s circumstances in a beautiful but tragic way. Both events reach their climax at similar times in a wonderfully symbolic and impactful match. This parallel cements their friendship and makes for an even stronger bond between the two lead characters, since their lives mirror each other’s in an inverse fashion.
Letdowns
Draggy Act Two
The second Act sags by repeatedly belabouring Milly’s struggle at a point where it doesn’t make sense to continue. While this results in a crescendo of conflict, it also stops serving its purpose after the first few scenes. Thankfully,
Milly is sympathetic enough of a character that we can overcome whatever disdain we might have for her faults at this point. However, it becomes trite and boring, and is a smear on a otherwise emotional and touching film.
Jess is bland
While we have Milly and Kit one end, two interesting characters dealing with an awful situation in a truly organic fashion, Jess falls on the other edge of the spectrum. She’s simply too perfect, with no serious character defects, and when placed alongside Milly, she’s just a plain and boring character. There’s nothing wrong with her, but there’s nothing right about her either.
“Miss You Already” gives a fresh take on what is an otherwise tired topic, resulting in a more genuine treatment of the issue.
“Miss You Already” opens in cinemas 5 November, 2015 (Thursday).
This review was first published on Yahoo.
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