Now, a couple of months ago I did a book review on the wonderful novel ‘Me Before You’ by Jo Jo Moyes, so it only felt right to complete the circle with a film review to ma
tch. Needless to say, I adored this movie. The casting was spot on, the locations were beautiful and the story itself…utterly, utterly heartbreaking.
But these are all things I already knew- just from the trailer. If I can fault this movie on just one thing, it was the amount of publicity and clips, teasers and trailers that were released before the film itself. I felt like I had nearly seen the whole thing before I even walked into the cinema. Like I said in a previous post, I’m a researcher- I can’t help myself. If Hollywood is going to offer these tid-bits before the film comes out, I’ll gobble them up and then feel guilty afterwards, just like if they were a chocolate cake. It’s the way I’m made.
But if thats all I can fault this film on, then lovers of the book, you have nothing to fear.
Emilia Clarke and Sam Claflin stole my heart completely as soon as they appeared on screen. They are Lou and Will, completely. they embodied the roles with such passion and tenderness that you really had no doubt they were perfect choices. Well done casting directors, well done indeed. The film, and the book itself are so wonderfully British, not two words we’ve been hearing together all that recently, and these two actors just brought that even more to life.
The backdrop was perfection, the ageing castles and the quintessential manor house where most of the story is set took my breath away, and reminded me of the beauty that is in the English countryside. I love films that just capture the essence of England, the rolling countrysides and the little tea-shops, the little country lanes and the brightly coloured terrace houses with their overgrown front lawns- I love it. And ‘Me Before You’ really captures the best of it all.
Lou’s outfits and clothing choices were a real show-stopper and play a very strong theme throughout the entire book, therefore I was so glad to see it wasn’t diluted or forgotten about in the film. Whilst the novel goes into more depth about why she chooses to dress the way she does, with bright colours and numerous layers and all around general wackiness, the film didn’t touch upon that certain subject, which I am in two minds about. Unfortunately, her reason behind her attitude and clothing is so heartbreaking it would have had you in tears a lot earlier on in the movie- Lou goes through some tough times before the beginning of the novel, and it changes her as a person, knocks her life onto a different path. And whilst in a book the length and depth of a novel allows you to recover, to recollect yourself and pace your emotions- it’s not something you can do with a film. But, on the other hand, its a subject that needs to be addressed urgently and in a manner that supports those involved. I don’t want to spoil the novel for people who haven’t read the book yet, so if you don’t know what I’m talking about, you know what to do.
The supporting cast was wonderful as well, all recognisable faces who bought the characters to life with such conviction and loyalty to the original text and the characters that Moyes has created. Charles Dance and Jenna Coleman are but a few of the stellar actors who were part of this film, and they were wonderful. I seriously cannot fault them.
The storyline flows well, it’s a classic story of boy dislikes girl, girl dislikes boy and yet we watch as they grow to like and eventually love one another. It’s a story that has been told many, many times over- and so it’s a story that needs a twist to make it stand out, to make it something special. And whilst it remained cliché in some places, it became totally original in others. The twist in the story is Will’s paralysis, and the role they play in each other’s life. You expect Lou to change Will’s life, to show him that it’s worth living for- yet somehow those roles reverse and it’s Will teaching Lou that there is so much more potential for her in the world.
As I said before, there are many topics within the film that can be seen as emotionally distressing or particularly sensitive. There is the theme of Euthanasia, Claflin’s character becoming paralysed from the neck down and wanting to end his life in Switzerland. There was an outcry when the film was released about this particular theme as many believed it cast disabled people as a burden on their families etc… Perhaps that is how it can be perceived, but I believe this film just shows one case in particular. Claflin’s character is clearly shown, on multiple occasions, to have led a very active and adventurous lifestyle before his accident. Moyes writes the character so you believe that he is truly unhappy with his own predicament, not because he believes the world would be better off without him- something I think is portrayed on the screen as well.
But, it’s a film that made me laugh, it made me cry, and it made me leave the cinema feeling content that justice had been done to the book and that the story had been told right. A definite must-see with either your partner or your girlfriends. Either way, just bring some tissues.
8.5/10
twists and turns to keep us interested. 
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