Title: Me Before You
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Director: Thea Sharrock
Starring: Emilia Clarke, Sam Claflin, Charles Dance
Runtime: 1 hr 50 mins

What Is It: When an eccentric young Lou (Clarke) takes a job as the caretaker for a rich, young quadriplegic William (Claflin). Initially, Will is apprehensive toward Lou and she being a shy young lady she cannot figure out what she needs to do in order for him to listen. As she continues through with this job (reluctantly) she eventually gets him to start being more co-operative. As their relationship grows so do feelings. A horrible secret though will lead them through the toughest of times.

What We Think: Super mushy and manipulative. This is what a slightly better Nicholas Sparks movies would look like, despite the source material not being from Sparks. Emilia Clarke does her best with the material, but sadly it just doesn’t help any. Claflin is given nothing to work with in his character. He comes off as a one-dimensional jerk who somehow becomes softer with the runtime. They don’t do this well enough for me to care. I think the main issue I have is it could’ve worked. I never once felt any feels during this, and that’s kind of the point, isn’t it. They want me and you to feel but I personally just couldn’t.

Our Grade: C-, It gets a passing grade because I don’t hate it and Emilia Clarke’s Lou charmed me just enough. From a direction standpoint, Sharrock shows she might have a future in cinema as most of her previous work is from the stage. I’ll recommend this to those who are looking for a good cry. You may find it, you may not. I didn’t and I doubt you will but why not give it a shot. It’s better than any of the Sparks adaptations we’ve gotten since The Notebook.