Horrorella Reviews ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL!

The story opens with Greg (Thomas Mann), a senior who has gotten through high school by being friendly with everyone around him, but never actually developing any real friends. He stays connected to, yet on the periphery of every social clique, thinking it's the best way to stay on everyone's good side and sail through unscathed. The end result is that Greg is eighteen years old and has yet to make a real connection with anyone. Even the one real friend he does have, Earl (RJ Cyler), gets kept at arm’s length and called his “coworker,” based on their mutual appreciation of obscure foreign films and their history of making short films together in the backyard on the weekends. He is funny and charming and personable, and certainly easy to like, but no bond he ever forms ever goes terribly deep.

When one of his classmates, Rachel (Olivia Cooke) is diagnosed with cancer, Greg’s pushy, overbearing mom (the incredible Connie Britton), insists that he take time out of his life to attempt to cheer up the poor girl. Forced into interaction, Greg begins spending more and more time with Rachel, becoming her friend, confidant and support. As the weeks go by, Greg finds himself making the first truly real connection of his life, learning to interact with someone beyond a superficial level and to really feel something for them.

So we have a cancer plot, a coming of age story, an indie comedy, bestie film nerds who make goofy movies together and a pair of quirky parents (Britton paired with Nick Offerman). On paper, the film is clichéd as all hell, but it manages to work around that and use those expectations to its advantage. It incorporates a surprising amount of wit and a great sense of humor, and stretches itself far past its perceived boundaries.

Greg's clever (often sardonic) wit carries a great deal of the film, but it is also a mechanism by which Greg shields himself from those around him. Despite a seeming devil-may-care attitude, he carries a pretty intense self esteem problem, masked by self-deprecating humor and numerous defense mechanisms. Greg's flippant nature is reflected in the storytelling of the film, which is periodically interrupted by his narrations and commentary on the situation at hand. We see the world through Greg's eyes, and the way he wants us to see it, defense mechanisms and all. He throws up deflections and distractions in the form of clever asides, pop culture references and momentary breaks from the action to watch his feelings play out in short animated scenes. This mechanism has the dual impact of injecting a comedic element into the proceedings, while also serving as an effective and telling window into Greg’s outlook and persona. We see everything going on, but through his lens. As the film goes on, and Greg is forced to confront the reality of his situation, they lessen, as he gradually (finally) begins to let us in and to speak honestly - to us and to himself.

The film features some stand out performances that really contribute to its personality– particularly Thomas Mann. He supplies Greg with all the required humor and disconnection, but also allows us to see the more vulnerable person hiding just below the surface. Greg is going through what all teenagers experience – confusion, uncertainty, and the knowledge that in just a few short months, everything will be different and his real life will begin, and he’s appropriately scared shitless.

Olivia Cooke does a brilliant turn as Rachel, giving the character a great deal of emotional bandwidth. The story is largely told from Greg's point of view, so even though Rachel doesn't get as much screen time or perspective, Cooke does a great job of communicating what the character is going through. We see her dealing with the burden placed before her, but she is also an incredible counterpoint to Greg. She sees through his bullshit and is not afraid to call him on it, and the friendship the pair forms is beautiful. They are both facing an uncertain future in their own way, and seeing them face it together is a powerful viewing experience.

The film incredibly balances its emotional weight and its sharp wit. It’s crazy funny and charming, but heart-touching in all the right places. You’d be tempted to think you’ve seen it all before, but I promise this one doesn’t hit the way you anticipate it will. It is successful because it is able to side step these expectations and deliver something true to its message, not just its tropes. It’s constantly setting up scenes, characters and scenarios that the audience will think they have pegged, only to pull the rug out at the last minute and create something wholly unique.