Based on the trailer and title of this film, you pretty much know what to expect. A weepy teen drama with moments of clever comic relief. Yes, that is what you get with this film…but it delivers so much more than that.
The thing that separates this film from other teen cancer dramas like The Fault in Our Stars is that this story is raw. It is realistic. It omits cliches. There are no perfect scenarios of romantic declarations or deep speeches of profound meaning coming from these young teenagers. They speak like teenagers speak. They act like teenagers act. They learn what teenagers are supposed to learn.
The story focuses on the importance of friendship and all the responsibilities that come with it. It is a coming of age story that deals with the hardships of life, showing us that it isn’t always peaches and cream. Life sucks sometimes. Really really bad.
Don’t worry though. The message of the film is not that life is one big suck fest that comes with a big bag of tragedy. It shows you how to look past the bad shit and focus on the beautiful details you never knew were there.
Yes. You are going to cry when you see this movie. When I saw it, the latter half of the film was accompanied by sniffling acoustics coming from the audience. Yet, everyone was smiling once the film ended. It is just that beautiful.
Not only is it an incredibly touching story, the film is also carried by great performances from some lesser known and very talented actors. Thomas Mann gives a deeply moving performance as the main character Greg. I wanted to jump into the screen and give this poor boy a hug. Olivia Cooke also delivers a brilliant performance, actually shaving her head for the role. RJ Cyler plays Earl, my personal favorite of the film. This was his first film role ever. I expect he’ll have many more in the future.
I also expect this film will get several nominations. It is definitely worthy of an Oscar nomination for Best Picture.
You’ll like this film if you liked: The Fault In Our Stars, Juno, and Perks of Being a Wallflower
Rated: PG-13
Movie Watcher's Guide 
Loved it!