Me Before You (2016)

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  TheMovieDiorama

  6 / 10

  Me Before You occasionally paralyses itself with romantic clichés but bravely tackles a controversial subject. As someone who does not actively seek out soppy romances (mostly because I like to live in solitude), I found this quirky British love story to be sweet and endearing. It frequently immobilises itself with eye rolling moments, however once the prickly subject of euthanasia takes hold of the script, it drives itself to the finish line (with a tear or two maybe...). Louisa, a young woman desperately looking for a job, becomes the carer of a stubborn quadriplegic. Initially a salty meanie who relishes in his own self-pity, her eccentric personality soon starts to win him over.
  
  So, if you've ever seen 'The Untouchables', you'll notice this film plays out almost identically to start with. Two strangers from different backgrounds forming a close bond after spending plenty of time together. It's a rather predictable affair, with this script struggling to inject any sense of heart during the first half. Clarke was wobbly as she forces this eccentric personality by wearing odd fashion choices, constantly babbling and trying her hardest to come across as awkward. The consistent use of Ed Sheehan songs and other romantic pop tracks made the film feel cheap and disposable, appealing to the demographic of radio-listening mums.
  
  But then something happened. About halfway through, it dawned on me that this may not have the happy ending I predicted. Euthanasia makes it way to the forefront and surprisingly packs an emotional punch. Clarke and Claflin begin to exhume believable chemistry and I found myself falling in love with them. Don't get me wrong, the script still has many stumbling blocks and overextends it's sentimentality, consequently leading to melodrama. However the film remains sweet throughout, and I appreciate the direction it took whilst adhering to its source material. You understand both Louisa and Will's perspectives on life, without the film forcing this upon you. Also shout out to Lumley who literally only has one minute of screen time (worth it!).

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