Should you watch this at weekend movie ticket prices? Not really.
Should you watch this at weekday movie ticket prices? OK.
Secret ending? No.
Running time: 105 minutes (1.75 hours)
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” is a teen dramedy based on the novel of the same name. It explores the friendship between a boy and a girl with terminal cancer. It stars Thomas Mann (Greg Gaines), Olivia Cooke (Rachel Kushner), Ronald Cyler II (Earl), Jon Bernthal (Mr McCarthy), Nick Offerman (Mr Gaines), Connie Britton (Mrs Gaines), and Molly Shannon (Denise Kushner). It is rated PG13.
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” is a teen drama that takes a slower, more genuine approach, with a focus on the relationships built during that age rather than the over-dramatic love stories and angst that are commonly seen in films of the same genre. It feels like less of a commercial endeavour, and more of an attempt at making a good teen movie, helping to fill the gap in an otherwise homogeneous genre.
Highlights
Droll humour and snappy dialogue
The script benefits from clever dialogue, as seen by how many of the jokes are wordplay and character driven, especially the fast-paced exchanges in the earlier portion of the film. It delivers exposition and characterisarion without sacrificing on the funnies that drive the film. Sadly this only applies for the first half of the movie, and gives way to sappier, slower conversations later on. Of course, this is a function of the story, but it’s still a pity that the film loses this towards the end.
Good set ups that don’t feel formulaic
The premise is rather common one, and generates a certain expectation of tropes that are surprisingly, not completely adhered to in the film. What results is a refreshing treatment of a serious topic that pays respect to both the surviving protagonist and victim of circumstance. It’s an authentic look at the issue, and also a heartwarming one given the ages of the main characters. This is what gives the movie its critical acclaim and also its impact on the audience.
Interesting camera angles and shots
Keeping in line with the quirky and personal style of the film, much of the film, especially the scenes with heavy dialogue, are shot from a unique perspective. It’s not a pretentiously artistic one, neither is it different for the sake being so. The angles are taken from the point-of-view of an imaginary third person in the scene, who’s lying or slouching as they watch events unfold. This gives us the senses that we’re a participating observer in the scene, rather than a member of the detached audience.
Letdowns
Slightly indulgent and self-absorbed at times
Perhaps it’s to do with the ages of the protagonists of the film. But some parts of it seem to be included for the sake of an unrelatable sense of artistry, rather than serving a story or character purpose. Fortunately, these moments are few and far between, so the film doesn’t end up as pretentious art film. However, they pop up enough to make you sit up and take notice — and distract you from the story.
Too talky
A great deal of the film, as mentioned earlier, centres around talking heads. While the dialogue is fresh and authentic, and captures the voicing of the current generation, there’s not enough variation to keep it compelling for the whole movie. Shorter cuts, or more intercutting would have helped to break up the pace and ensure that the dialogue, while interesting, is given the necessary pauses to prevent audience fatigue.
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” benefits from its altruistic approach to the subject matter, and delivers an enjoyable drama. While some portions could have benefitted from some trimming, the movie is a good one on the whole, and worth watching in cinemas.
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” opens in cinemas 3 September, 2015 (Thursday).
This review was also published on Yahoo.
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