Me Before You review: Game Of Thrones’ actress Emilia Clarke joins The Hunger Games’ Sam Claflin in this rather pleasing adaptation of Jojo Moyes’ book.
Me Before You review by Paul Heath, May 2016.
Me Before You review
The trailers and other promotional material for Me Before You, this week’s rival to the likes of Warcraft and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, weren’t great. The schmaltzy tone, giggly, kooky Emilia Clarke in the lead and Sam Claflin as the quadriplegic rich kid wore thin almost immediately, though happily the film plays completely differently, most of the promos not doing it justice in any way.
Adapted from the very popular book by Jojo Moyes, Me Before You sees Claflin’s Will Traynor, a wealthy money man from the city on the way up, seriously injured after being hit by a motorcycle one rain-swept morning as he leaves his luxury city pad. Fast-forward a year or so to Louisa Clarke (played by her namesake), a small town girl supporting her redundant father and the rest of her family by working in a local cafe. When the cafe’s owner suddenly has to let Louisa go, she is forced to look for work elsewhere, and comes across an ad for a caretaker for a local paralysed young man, Will Traynor. Employed by his mother and father (played by Janet McTeer and Charles Dance) , Louisa reluctantly takes the position. Will’s initial reactions aren’t good, almost immediately shunning her attempt to brighten up his life with her warm demeanour, weird dress-sense and delightful charm. Slowly, Will becomes more communicative and open-minded, and the two start to fall for one another.
Me Before You review
As you may have noted from my initial reactions to hearing of the film, I wasn’t particularly looking forward to Me Without You, but as always when lowering one’s expectations going into films which may not fall into one’s own demographic, one can be very surprised. Such was the case here. Me Without You is a delightful film, light in tone despite its tricky subject matter which surfaces towards the end, brilliantly adapted for the screen by novelist Moyes and director Thea Sharrock, a filmmaker renowned for he theatre work, and television credits like Call The Midwife.
It’s a really delightful watch, made so largely because of the performance of Emilia Clarke. The character that she plays is a million miles away from Daenerys Targaryen in Game Of Thrones, but one which lights up the screen in every frame she appears in. Me Before You is an enjoyable romantic comedy elevated to an outstanding one due to that kooky, warm, lovable performance, one that makes you want to see the film all over again just to spend more time the character.
Me Before You review
There’s some great support from Dance and McTeer as the sympathetic parents, and Doctor Who‘s Jenna Coleman, and Sam Claflin ably delivers a great turn as Will Traynor, which really isn’t an easy role to play.
This really could be the best rom-com of the year so far – though one which will have you bordering on the edge of tears for the final third, right of the way through to it’s heartbreaking, though hugely uplifting ending.
Really rather delightful.
Me Before You review by Paul Heath, May 2016.
Me Before You is released in UK cinemas on June 3rd, 2016.
