Me and Earl and the Dying Girl (2015) User Reviews (252)

Brilliantly authentic and deeply touching

[luke-a-mcgowan · 9/10 · 12 October 2015]

There are about four films that can overcome the "seen it" cynicism I have, unlock my heart and make me feel genuine feelings. In other films I can appreciate that the film is beautiful and emotional, but there are only four that can really get to me. The first was Crash, the second was The Green Mile and the third was Boyhood. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl just scored the fourth slot on that extremely small list. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon's film is a beautiful cocktail of wonderful things. Its quirky and charming and witty and touching and somber and delicate and completely beautiful. Its got elements of about six of my favourite films of all time, and the fact that it slam dunked Sundance doesn't even surprise me a bit.

Thomas Mann's Greg is a weirdo. Imagine that Napoleon Dynamite went to Cady Heron's school from Mean Girls, hated all the clicks and became a cynic. Mann shades what could've been a completely unlikeable protagonist with wonderful colours and depth, so much so that when his friend Earl explains to Rachel why Greg is so averse to being friends, we realise we've actually known the whole time. That's probably the most beautiful part of Gomez- Rejon's direction - he never comes out and beats you with information, he leads you gently to it and makes you realise it yourself. RJ Cyler takes Earl, a generic Pedro-type sidekick and makes him just the slacker you'd expect, but with incredible qualities underneath. Olivia Cooke makes the audience love her with her quietly devastating portrayal of a girl with leukaemia. All I can say is that she is a worth recipient of my annual Patricia Arquette Award For Character I Most Want to Hug.

Considering this film has maybe one actor I'd ever heard of, there's a huge pool of talent even in the supporting cast. John Bernthal is good in everything. Nick Offerman is amazing as Greg's stay at home intellectual dad, and Molly Shannon steals every scene as Rachel's emotionally destroyed mother. Keep an eye out for Matt Bennett's utterly bizarre but hilarious Scott Mayhew as well.

Jesse Andrews' screenplay strikes an incredible balance between comedy and drama. Its very easy for a film about cancerous teens to become completely depressing and tedious, but the witty dialogue, incredible spikes of humour and quirky characters make the film beautiful. Andrews isn't trying to make a statement, he's just telling a story about a normal boy who strikes up a friendship with a normal girl. The dialogue is as real as any movie I've ever seen, and the use of minimal effects and hand-held camera really created an authenticity that made me walk away feeling like I've just watched a highly personal reflection, and not a work of fiction.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl: Proof That Laughter Can Help Ease the Pain of Dying

[jbroc62 · 8/10 · 8 July 2015]

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl offers a very accessible, honest, and humorous look at not only how someone deals with being diagnosed with cancer, but it also turns the clichés of the coming-of-age story on its nose, and the people behind this film are able to do that by finding the perfect balance between drama and comedy within this unfortunate tragedy.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl centers around Greg (Thomas Mann), a very sarcastic and self-loathing high school student going into his senior year. Greg believes that if he shuts everyone out of his life so that he won't have to deal with anything, then things will be okay, and this gives him a sort of self-gratification. So to uphold his philosophy, he doesn't try to be friends with anyone, but makes sure he's on low-key, good terms with everyone in his school. However, he does spend his time with his co-worker/"friend" Earl (RJ Cyler) making parodies of classic foreign cinema together. However, when Greg learns from his mother that a childhood friend of his, Rachel (Olivia Cooke) is diagnosed with Leukemia, Greg begins a blossoming friendship with Rachel; a friendship that would take him through the best of times, the worst of times, and eventually shape him into the person that he will become.

While this film definitely shares characteristics with 2014's The Fault in Our Stars (which is a pretty good movie in my opinion), this film to me is more heartfelt and inventive than TFiOS ever was. And most of this has to do with the brilliant screenplay written by Jesse Andrews, who happened to write the book that his film is adapted from. The way that Andrews addresses how to deal with this sickness is wonderfully human and clumsy; whether through comedy, wit, or drama, Andrews finds a way to make the whole scenario relate in some way, shape, or form to anyone and everyone.

The direction and cinematography are absolutely incredible. Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, who is known for his work on American Horror Story, and was a personal assistant to Martin Scorsese, shows not only his inventiveness, but his quirkiness as a director on this film. Gomez-Rejon shows his talent with stop motion animation, long panning shots, flashback sequences, and some very long takes that really allow the actors to give the best performances possible. There are even times when this feels like a Wes Anderson film, and this can also be contributed to the gorgeous cinematography. Chung-hoon Chung oozes with style behind the camera, and ultimately the film has a very vibrant look that gave the story being told so much life. These people tell this story with so much care and thought, it's evident that the filmmakers truly respected Andrews' work on the screenplay and wanted to do it the justice it deserves. And thankfully, we got it here.

The performances in this film are all magnetic. Every single one of these actors were able to hold their own on screen. The parents in the film, played by Molly Shannon, Connie Britton, and the always delightful Nick Offerman, all do fantastic work. Their relationships with their children are all very grounded in reality and realistically portrayed. Jon Bernthal is incredibly funny as Greg's history teacher, and is able to depict the "generic cool teacher who understands the main protagonist" in a different, refreshing light. However, the three leads all steal the show. RJ Cyler serves as a foil to Greg's character. Instead of BS-ing people in order to avoid any direct confrontation, Cyler's Earl is very frank with his language and emotions, and gets right to the core of the problem with Rachel. Olivia Cooke gives a very heartfelt and understated performance in this film, and watching her suffering through this sickness that's eating her up is truly heartbreaking to watch. However, the whole film rides on Thomas Mann's shoulders. His detached performance, and the way he handles Rachel's sickness is so realistically somber. His character actually reminds quite a bit of the characters Anthony Michael Hall played in older John Hughes films. He does a fantastic job with the darker comic moments in the film, and the way his character develops throughout the film is nothing short of stellar.

This film won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival this past January, and it's not hard to see why. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a film filled with heartbreakingly realistic performances, quirky direction, gorgeous cinematography, and spectacular writing. Whether your an art-house fan, a fan of cinema in general, or just the casual moviegoer, there's something in this film that everyone can relate to. It's in wide release right now, so do yourself a favor and go see it, because it's one of the best films of the year.

Enjoyed every moment of this film

[somf · 9/10 · 11 May 2015]

I have to start my review with discussing the inevitable comparisons with "The Fault in Our Stars". John Green fans would find it blasphemous to say this is a superior film but it certainly is. I don't think that I can argue that the characters in TFIOS are more realistic, but the whole unique style and quirkiness of MAEATDG make it a true classic of the teen genre like "The Breakfast Club" or "Breaking Away". It as important as many of the films to which Earl and Greg pay homage with their own hilarious versions.

So many of the same subjects that one finds in any film about the coming of age of high school students exist in this film, but the director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon puts his own stamp on what could otherwise be called cliché. Kudos to Gomez-Rejon whose previous work has been with several Fox TV shows. He should have a good career in film from here on out.

Olivia Cooke as Rachel, Thomas Mann as Greg, and RJ Cyler as Earl are all fantastic. I was familiar with Olivia Cooke before but not the other two. I expect to see a lot more from all of them.

The adults are all superbly cast as well. Molly Shannon spends the movie with a glass of white wine in one hand drowning the pain of dealing with her daughter's plight. Connie Briton and Nick Offerman are wonderful as Greg's parents, with Nick showing that the eccentricities of the child do not fall far from the tree.

I saw this tonight at a screening in Denver at an art house cinema called "The Mayan" It was built probably in the 30s or 40s most likely a single cinema that they did a pop top on to create two more theaters. Those two upstairs theaters are odd to say the least. The leg room is less than economy class on Spirit Air and the screen is not much more than double the size of my screen at home. Probably less that 150 seats as well.Weird place to show the film, since the theater downstairs is really quite nice. I bring this up because I hope this film gets seen by more than the art- house crowd. It really should have mass appeal. I assume Fox hopes to build strong word of mouth on Me and Earl. Well let me help them. Just go see this film. You won't regret it.

Super w Long Shelf Life

[tomtobias-230-837004 · 10/10 · 3 February 2015]

I saw Me & Earl last week at Sundance and have not stopped thinking about it. That is a long (6 day) shelf life. What more can one ask from a film? The writing and execution is elite quality. All scenes seem necessary. Parent/child relationships, peer relationships, teacher/student relationships all are captured in humorous and touching ways. Life and death realities are also visited through the lens of "kids" who make as much sense as possible when facing the grim possibilities of severe illness.

Sorry to be redundant from other reviews but this darn film has HEART and should be required viewing for anyone who sees at least one movie a year.

Thanks to the team that made this one happen.

Not Just Marketable, But Good Too

[SLUGMagazineFilms · 30 January 2015]

It would be easy to criticize the fact that Me & Earl & the Dying Girl appears to have been genetically engineered to be a summer box office moneymaker (Fox Searchlight and Indian Paintbrush have already snatched up the rights for a record- breaking $12 million). It's an adaptation of a young adult novel about adolescent friendship in the midst of terminal illness, which is hot in Hollywood right now thanks to The Fault in Our Stars. Basically, I went in to this film wanting to despise it for its utter marketability. Upon seeing it, however, I was reminded that movies can be commercially successful and good at the same time—and that's okay. The film chronicles the senior year of Greg (Thomas Mann), his friend Earl (R.J. Cyler), and Rachel (Olivia Cooke), who has been diagnosed with leukemia. Though all of the teen dramedy tropes are present—awkward parents, the teacher who gets it, the exploration of high school cliques—the excellent supporting cast keeps the narrative fresh. Greg's parents (Connie Britton and Nick Offerman) add an eccentric jolt of parental weirdness to their scenes, and The Walking Dead's Jon Bernthal takes archetypal cool teacher role into some original territory with his tattoos and battle- scholar vibe. While I found myself wanting more in regards to Rachel's character, the film's treatment of her friendship with Greg is both darkly funny and realistically somber. This is one movie that it's safe to see regardless of its soon-to-be huge commercial appeal. –Alex Springer

Who wouldn't love that title?!

[Hellmant · 9/10 · 8 July 2015]

'ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL': Four and a Half Stars (Out of Five)

Critically acclaimed indie comedy-drama flick; about an awkward high school teen, and his young filmmaking buddy, who befriend a sick classmate with leukemia. The film stars Thomas Mann, Olivia Cooke, Ronald Cyler II, Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, Molly Shannon, Katherine C. Hughes and Jon Bernthal. It was directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon (who's most well known for directing popular TV shows, like 'GLEE' and 'AMERICAN HORROR STORY') and it was written by first time feature film writer Jesse Andrews (and based on his book, of the same name). I absolutely love this movie!

Greg Gaines (Mann) is a senior at Schenley High School, in Pittsburgh, who's made it through school mostly unnoticed, by only slightly communicating (politely) with everyone (in every social group). He makes short film spoofs, with his best friend Earl (Cyler II); who he's known since childhood. One day, Greg's mother (Britton) informs him that another childhood friend, Rachel (Cooke), has been diagnosed with leukemia. He's then forced, by his mom, to spend time with his sick classmate; against both their wishes. A touching friendship forms.

The film is quirky and hilarious, in places. The actors are all perfectly cast and the characters are all lovable, and memorable. It's also a very touching film, and quite depressing (at times); but it's always beautiful to watch, and wonderfully moving. The cinematography is gorgeous and the score is perfectly fitting. The script is brilliant, and clever as well, and the director is definitely one to watch out for. It's sure to become a cult classic, for many years to come, and who wouldn't love that title?!

An indie well worth seeing

[ross-bob · 7/10 · 9 July 2015]

I saw it three times. Yes,it was painful because we were all that kid -- geek, awkward, nowhere with girls.

The movie is honest, funny, and I will see Olivia Cooke's unreal face in front of me for months. (And she did shave her head; I wondered about that.) R.J. Cyler gave perfect balance to the lead actor's awkward role.

The best thing about this movie is the writing; it crackles at times with insight into the outsider's life.

I am much aggrieved that it only earned four million at the box office nationally. It's worth a lot more.

A movie teens should watch. If you liked Fault in our Stars you will love this movie.

[cosmo_tiger · 8/10 · 25 September 2015]

"We're not even friends." Greg (Mann) is finally a senior. He as survived high school by trying to be invisible to everyone and not causing any drama. When his mother tells him that a classmate (Cooke) has been diagnosed with cancer and that he should hang out with her he hesitates. What starts off as something he is forced to do actually helps him to become who he truly is. If you have teenagers this is a movie they should watch. The movie is a mix of Fault in our Stars and Perks of Being a Wallflower. There is humor and drama in this but the best part about it is that it feels real and nothing about it is forced. The movie could have easily been cheesy and almost after-school-special-like but it stays away from that and becomes something that is truly special. It isn't anything all that original but the writing and acting really make this one of the better movies of this genre and I recommend it. Overall, a movie that could have been very hokey but instead turned out to be very real and heartfelt. A movie teens should watch. If you liked Fault in our Stars you will love this movie. I give it a high B+.

Me and Earl shows just how desperately obsessed we are with death

[joeravioli · 7/10 · 18 July 2015]

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is one of those rare teenage movies that actually depicts teenagers. I never said it does it all that well, but at least it gives it an honest effort. It often feels true to the spirit of youth in that the film is slow, uncertain, ordinary, and slightly crude. The main characters aren't supermodels (although they ain't ugly), and they carry themselves in an exaggerated, basic form of what a teenager truly is. It is a refreshing and hopeful move away from the action-packed and otherwise soulless frameworks of modern teenage films, all the way from ridiculous vampires to ridiculous dystopias.

Despite this impressive regression to reality, it isn't perfect, coming off more as a stepping stone to a (perhaps exclusively teenage) cinematic era of real people doing real things. The teenagers are way too intelligent, always ready with a witty remark to shatter conversation barriers that most teenagers would find almost insurmountable. Everyone has a powerfully distinguishing feature, whether they're gorgeous, creative, or just plain weird. It's as if a thirty-year old man clinging onto the vestiges of his youth decided to write a book about a segment of his life that he barely remembers. And it is.

But all this is simply a minor problem. The script's bumps are more than made up for by the wonderful acting. This film was one of the few where I could actually appreciate the acting as more than a vehicle for the plot. Thomas Mann, Olivia Cooke and RJ Cyler have brilliant chemistry as the main characters of this film. Their dynamic is always brilliantly up-and-down, ranging from friendly conversation to boiling rage. It is always nice to see young actors who can actually act.

And now for the plot. This is where the beauty of the film resides, and also its major, unavoidable drawback. First, its beauty. Greg, a self-loathing teenager with a fear of commitment (typical teenager, either they hate or love themselves) spends his days making parodies of classic films with his buddy Earl (who he prefers to call his "coworker"). His life seems aimless and disconnected from the real world, as if he is wrapped up in himself so tightly that he refuses to let reality penetrate his own defenses. After his mother's incessant urging, he is forced into a "doomed friendship" with Rachel, another teenage girl who just happens to have a terminal illness (hence the "dying girl" of the title). Through this girl, whom he immediately establishes a connection with, he overcomes his own fear of connection, and eventually becomes attuned to his own creative spirit, which he reveals to us in the beautiful, heartbreaking climax of the film.

But when I thought about it, I realized that I had a problem with all this. This movie relied on character development (and to a lesser extent cinematography and acting). The main character developed. But at what cost? The death of a young girl. Do filmmakers have the right to kill someone who has barely lived in pursuit of a theme that could be achieved using much more subtle methods? Must we face the death of someone we love in order to change? This common theme (perhaps even a celebration) of death in teenage films is disturbing.

So like I said, it gives it an effort, and that effort is much appreciated. But the exploitation of death is a bit more than I am able to admire.

Saw it at Dallas Film Festival

[twinartists · 8/10 · 16 April 2015]

I have been looking forward to this movie for a while. I saw the trailer and was instantly gripped by it. I got to see it early at the Dallas Film Festival three months before it was actually released. The film was incredible. The dialog was amazing, If you enjoyed fast wit like Juno, then you'll have a blast with this one. It's a must see, and deals with cancer in such a touching way. The acting was amazing. Nick Offerman and Connie Britton were hilarious and touching. Thomas Mann, Olivia Cooke, and RJ Cyler were also brilliant in every way. The director, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, did an amazing job here. Every scene had it's own feel to it that made the film feel unique.

It captures high school in a great way that I didn't expect. It shows cliques in a new light, and it gives a great representation of how the protagonist deals with it. The film changes tone with ease. With a gradual enough change that doesn't feel forced or awkward. It's an amazing movie.

Not as beautiful as it thinks it is.

[morellomole-71898 · 6/10 · 10 September 2015]

I wanted to see this film from the moment I saw the trailer, and therefore made the mistake of having high expectations. On the plus side, I am glad I saw this (the same cannot be said for my partner watching the film who fell asleep), as it had a lot of good things going on. The cinematography was superb, and the overall visual effect made this enjoyable to watch (camera angles, colours, imagery, long shots etc.). The 'dying girl' in question was well played and anchored the film appropriately. Some of the interplay between the characters was also quite smooth and funny with some quirky individuals present.

It is also the interplay with the characters that lets this film down in some ways. Earl is underdeveloped though interesting, and many of the characters are quirky but ridiculous in the process making the fabric of the film thin in the process. There is a very distinct lack of music and talking through much of the film, which is clearly intentional to allow the scenes to breathe and bring you in to them. It does do that but in a self conscious way, which left me with the impression that it was trying too hard to be beautiful and emotional but without quite having the freedom to work properly.

It would be fair to say this film was clever, funny, and sad. However, it was clever but slightly smug, funny but did not make me laugh, and was sad but did not make me cry.

Quirky little gem from Sundance that just has to be seen

[bartonj2410 · 8/10 · 5 September 2015]

It's easy to dismiss such a quirky film as Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, the latest independent film to get a release after making quite an impression at the Sundance Film Festival, where it won both the Audience Award and Grand Jury Prize in the drama category.

Make the film too quirky and you could alienate an audience however, a subtle amount of quirkiness combined with a good blend of comedy and drama will give you a film like Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, which ends up being both irresistible and infectious to its audience.

Greg (Thomas Mann) is a high school student who just wants to get through school without associating himself with any of the various cliques or making enemies. Along with his friend Earl (RJ Cyler), Greg spends his spare time making parodies of their favourite classic movies.

When he learns that his childhood friend, Rachel (Olivia Cooke), has been diagnosed with leukemia, he is forced by his overbearing parents to befriend her in her time of need. Through this friendship, Greg soon finds his outlook on life altered.

There is always the uneasy feeling of laughing at a film that centres around a girl suffering from cancer. There is great care taken though by director, Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, in making sure that the subject gets the delicate treatment it deserves with the perfect combination of comedy and drama.

He is aided by a delightful screenplay from Jesse Andrews, the author of the book the film is adapted from, full of enough wit, charm and quirky cutaway moments, such as the feeling of when the hot girl at school talks to you, to leave you with a smile on your face.

The film is elevated to another level by the three main performances from Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler and Olivia Cooke, all showing fine range in both the dramatic and comedic departments. They are supported quite wonderfully by the likes of Nick Offerman, Connie Britton, Jon Bernthal and Molly Shannon, and keep your ears peeled for a funny voice cameo from Hugh Jackman that fits the quirkiness of the film so well.

Critics love it and so should audiences, I'm just hoping people decide to go and see it instead of some of the inane drivel that Hollywood produces these days. It really does deserve all the success it can get.

A good film that could have been better

[ginocox-206-336968 · 7/10 · 25 September 2015]

"Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" is a difficult film to like, but even more difficult to dislike. The protagonist is an emotionally detached teenager who makes corny parodies of classic films and secretly loves a high school hottie who is out of his league. He confronts several dramatic challenges. He needs to learn to show real emotion and to accept the friendship of others. He needs to mature in his passion for cinema and take his corny amateurish films to a level of genuine filmmaking where he will actually take pride in showing them to others. And he needs to channel his sexual urges into an actual relationship instead of avoiding any contact with any other student, especially the girl of his fantasies. He has a couple of other challenges as well. He needs to stop being a high school student and get into college where he can develop skills for a future career. And he needs to develop a relationship with the dying girl, which is a sort of allegory for the other challenges in his life.

Like "Inglourious Basterds," "The Deal" and "The Player," the film is about cinema, filmmakers and filmmaking. On one hand, the corny little parodies that Greg and Earl make are a brilliant device for establishing the character of the two male leads and providing a mechanism to show Greg's maturation and emotional attachment to Rachel. But ultimately the parodies seem vacuous. They're like the cereal box in "2001: A Space Odyssey" or the produce in "The Interview," realistic outside, but phony inside. When it comes time for Greg and Earl to actually produce a movie with genuine emotion for Rachel, we see that they have some good footage of their interviews, but in the end he cops out and does an elaborate stop-motion animation that has (at least in the part we see) no relevance to her life, unless it's a cynical statement that inanimate things can be given the illusion of life.

In a deus ex machina event of inconceivable proportions, given the scale of the story, he is given an opportunity for romance with the putatively hottest girls in school, but reverts to his selfish, misanthropic ways and stands her up for an important date, doubtlessly humiliating her before her classmates, and suffers no consequences. While one could argue that he broke the date for altruistic reasons, the manner in which he did so seems callous and suggests he has not grown at all emotionally.

If one views his dramatic challenge as easing Rachel's passing and the film itself as Greg's story of his adolescence, then one could argue that he prevailed. But if one views his relationship with Rachel as learning to express himself emotionally so he can establish relationships with others, especially Madison, he fails miserably and ends the film pretty much the same misanthropic jerk he was at the beginning. And he still has no direction in his life. He actively applies for entrance to Pitt, but why Pitt? If his entire life has been about filmmaking. He should be trying to get into a film school.

The film is disappointing in the way that it shows considerable promise, but could have been better. The hokey amateur videos were a brilliant device, but are used more as a gimmick than an allegory. The father and the history professor are fascinated by exotic foods, but the food that has the greatest impact turns out to be a batch of cookies. Rachel is a pretty girl and Earl is fascinated by her breasts, but Greg never kisses her. The film has numerous good elements and clever ideas that aren't quite developed as well as they could have been.

Performances are good. Technical aspects are adequate. A few shots are unsteady and the cinematographer engages in a few self-indulgent odd camera angles and movements. A few scenes, such as the fight scene in the cafeteria, seem like they were done in one shot and might have benefited from additional takes and camera angles. Dialogue is good, especially for the two mothers, but even the limo driver has some decent lines.

Some good, *A LOT* of bad

[david-rf · 4/10 · 1 December 2015]

The good: - Some unconventional and interesting cinematography made by Chung- hoon Chung with some departures from his usual style (I recognize in it a mixture of Wes Anderson and a bunch of other pretty known directors). Sometimes framing and camera movements are a bit an end in themselves but whatever. - Nice performances by some actors - Well... that's all.

The bad: - Most of gags and jokes are just meh. - Some of the gags and jokes are not just meh: they're so bad it's embarrassing to watch. - In fact, I think about a joke out of 10 in the movie is actually decent. - A bit juvenile, and this is meant in the worst possible way - The plot is so predictable it's painful. Yes, it will develop and it will end just like you expect it to do after 10 minutes of watching. - In the economy of the movie, Earl could've never existed and it would've been exactly the same. A useless, insignificant character who for some reason is in the title. - At the 30 minutes mark the movie already began to bore me, and it bored me from that point till the end. - The delivery of any emotional content fails miserably. Everything is so fake, shallow, badly written, badly directed. It's not actors' fault. This, with the exception of something towards the end, where they got it easy...

Inconceivably overrated piece of sh*t of a movie that saves itself from total failure only thanks to some good cinematography. It is actually one of the worst movies I've watched in 2015, and believe me, I watched plenty. 4/10.

Oh Wow (Ferris Bueller eat your heart out)

[A_Different_Drummer · 10/10 · 9 October 2015]

According to the IMDb TOS, they are not currently accepting 2-word reviews -- OH WOW -- so I am going to flesh this out a tiny bit:

1. Self-aware. The key to all movies about teenage angst. Possibly the key to all the good movies of all time. If you can compel the viewer to look within and produce a shared experience without the accompanying moral outrage, you have nailed it. Ferris Bueller did this. BRICK did this. ME/EARL does this. Instant classic. Oh Wow. (Ooop -- getting repetitive)

2. Andrews, the writer/adapter, is obviously a film buff. Many film makers have tried to show off their encyclopedic knowledge of film within the confines of their movie -- even the infamous QT, especially the infamous QT -- but nobody was ever this clever. The "trope" of giving the main characters a hobby where they spend their spare time spoofing major films is .. brilliant.

3. Speaking of brilliant, the tiny Claymation sequence off the top where it is scientifically demonstrated how very pretty girls can destroy a passerby without even realizing it ... is not merely brilliant but iconic. That alone guarantees this film will never be forgotten.

4. Cook is a find. She presents as a love child from Jessica Alba (the eyes) and Rachael McAdams (inner glow). A great pedigree.

5. I could go on, but hopefully you get the point. Catch this one NOW, because films this good only come along every 6 or 7 years... if you're lucky

I cried my eyes out but I loved every second

[flora_sota · 10/10 · 11 December 2015]

This film is truly amazing. I love every single piece of it. The characters are so all different but they complete each other in an extraordinary way. I also love how they fool the audience to believe that Rachel will survive. I really, really believed it. I was like, no they won't kill her, they can't. They have made me like her too much that it just would be cruel to kill her. But then she just died and was sitting there drowning in my own tears and parts of me was still believing that she would jump out of no where and just "it was just a joke everybody, i'm alive". But it didn't happen unfortunately.

I would also like to add that the aesthetic way the made the movie is great. The colors make it pleasant to look at and the different angels they are filming it makes the movie even more lovable.

This movie gets a straight 10 out of 10! One of the best movies Iv'e ever seen!

A Little Friendship Never Killed Anyone!

[CinemaClown · 17 December 2015]

Crafted with intimacy, told with composure & made all the more heartwarming by wonderful performances from its cast, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is another unexpected delight of the year that surprises & stirs in equal doses, brims with a refreshing energy from beginning to end, and is a welcome addition to the coming-of-age dramas.

Based on the novel of the same name, the story of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl focuses on Gary, a high-school senior who spends most of his time making parodies of classic films with his partner, Earl, and has a very low opinion of himself. However, his perspective of life is altered when he befriends a classmate who's recently diagnosed with cancer.

Directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon in what is his sophomore effort & scripted by the novel's author himself, the movie opens on a predictable note but slowly & steadily manages to win that viewers' hearts, thanks to its excellent grip on storytelling elements & naturally building charm. While Gomez-Rejon keeps the tone lighthearted for the most part, he finishes it on a high with a gut-wrenching finale.

The short films parodying past cinematic gems is both amusing & admirable to look at, the stop-motion animation is another pleasing element and these little stuffs offer more insight into the characters inhabiting the film, while adding something to the story that's entirely its own. Camera-work & editing work in tandem and its 105 minutes of runtime is aptly utilised. Music is in sync with unfolding events & is at its best during the climax.

Coming to the performances, the film features a young but promising cast in Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler & Olivia Cooke who play Greg, Earl & Rachel aka the dying girl, respectively. Each actor does justice to his or her part and it's a balanced performance from all three of them which only gets better as the story progresses. There are many long takes in the movie and these actors do an amazing job in those moments by keeping their expressions in tune with the given situation.

On an overall scale, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a touching, heartfelt & poignant story that packs in a lot of heart, warmth, laughs & tears, and saves its best for the final act. The film doesn't try to be pitiful or sappy because of a dying person in it, but aims to show how laughter, comfort & companionship can at least ease all sorts of pain, if not cure it. The final climactic moment is mesmerising & heartbreaking at the same time but the epilogue makes sure that the story ends on a fitting note. Definitely recommended.

Ehhhhhh....

[mr_bickle_the_pickle · 6/10 · 27 March 2019]

I did not like this film as much as others seemed to. And I think thats partially because I had just read the book beforehand. Which I know you should judge a movie on its own merits...but its kind of hard when the characterizations seemed so off. First of all Greg is awkward sure, but he's not mean. And this version came across a lot meaner. Like, he never says that his mom is making him spend time with her (even though its true) cause he knows that would hurt her feelings, or the cafeteria scene he makes up silly story/joke about how his food is alien barf and how another student is an alien but its super obvious that its clearly joke...he doesnt randomly make fun of another student's walk. There was just little things like those that rubbed me the wrong way. I also felt that Molly Shannon was woefully miscast. She plays it so weirdly like shes trying to come on to these teenagers. Even the scene where she's being interviewed for Greg and Earl's movie is being played for laughs when its meant to be serious. And I feel like the movie missed the point of the book. The book clearly states from the beginning that this isnt some typical sappy story where its going to shed you some insight on how her cancer changed his life...blah blah blah. But the movie sure wanted to go that way.

Like, its not a terrible film....just not what I was expecting. I was fine with them cutting out certain aspects of the book/condensing or adding stuff in like the prom. I mean whatever, that are small insignificant things that dont overall change the story. I just feel about 20 min, the movie started to really change direction. Not too mention that some parts feel rushed.

Overall, I did like the actors in this (minus Molly Shannon), and I really liked the addition of the stop motion and seeing the fake movies. And there are funny, cute, and some heartwarming moments.

I liked it, but didnt love it.

Spoiler in the title?

[kosmasp · 9/10 · 28 October 2016]

Or maybe not. But then again, you have to watch the movie to really know. One thing is for sure: the movie is funny if you like weird humor that is out there. That is really strange and has a strong script (the dialog is amazing, maybe you may think it's too much for some teenagers to talk like that). If you actually thought the fault in our stars movie was good, wait until you get a load of this. And just to be clear, I'm talking about the other movie, not the novel that it was based on, that I never read.

But back to this, because while some pretend to be real, this actually feels real and all without much of an effort. The actors do a phenomenal job, but do have a source that is helping them out a lot too. Emotional but rewarding in a sense

A film to make you smile.

[valleyjohn · 7/10 · 6 October 2015]

This is the story of Greg who spends his spare time avoiding trouble at school and making film parodies with his unlikely friend Earl. One day his mother asks him to visit Rachel , a girl who he has hardly anything to do with but has just been diagnosed with Leukemia. Now the premise of this film may sound a little depressing but it totally isn't . It's also not a romantic story in any way. This is a funny , extremely well written comedy that just makes you smile. Thomas Mann is excellent as Gregg as is RJ Cyler as Earl and these two make the film what it is. Their movie parodies titles are very funny i only wish we got to watch some of them ! . If i had to be slightly critical it would be that the last half an hour of the film doesn't live up to the rest of it but all in all i found myself smiling through out most of this.

A Gem of a Movie About Why Life Is So Precious

[Hitchcoc · 10/10 · 10 November 2015]

I saw this film on a four hour flight. I had it on my list of films to see, but I never got around to seeing it. What we have here is a classically gifted child who tries to hide in the bushes. His friend is a down-to-earth black kid who comes from humble roots. His contributions are more basic. He has a seemingly dangerous brother. The star is a filmmaker, taking classics like "Apocalypse Now" and "Breathless" and turning them into truncated parodies. The titles are probably better than the movies. One day, his somewhat overbearing mother, lets him know that a classmate of his, a young woman, has leukemia, and that it would be nice to for him to visit her. He reluctantly goes to see her, and it is only his explanation that his mother will make it hell for him if he doesn't spend time with her. What develops is a fascinating connection between the two and love at arm's length. Earl is only a part time player and not a great factor, other than being a refreshing distraction. What makes this movie so wonderful is the natural development of love and friendship, the realities of the illness, and a slow revealing of truths between the two characters. The movie is funny at times and never maudlin, although it has its dark moments as well. I'd not heard of the kids playing the roles, but they are strikingly poignant in their delivery. Nick Offerman, who is only in a couple scenes, plays the father of the boy. He steals every scene he is in. He is an experimenter with life where the young man experiments with film. See this.

Cute, but lacking

[blott2319-1 · 6/10 · 14 June 2021]

There's a lot of charm in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. It's a story that plays well, and easily connects on an emotional level. Any time you have a young person dealing with a fatal illness it's almost impossible to avoid getting emotionally invested. I definitely welled up with tears once while watching the film, but I can't say I actually shed any tears. I'll get into the reasons why later, but I want to spend a bit more time on the overall pluses and minuses of the film. I think one of the things that I found a bit underwhelming in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl were the first two characters mentioned in the title. Both the male protagonists were a little flat. I was not impressed with Thomas Mann or RJ Cyler, and wanted them to give me more. They are playing the type of characters that I wanted to relate to closely, but I wasn't feeling it. Olivia Cooke and all of the adult cast outshone them in every way, to the point that their bland performance stood out a bit more. I did like the characters' personalities as they were written, though. It also doesn't hurt when a movie like this shows such reverence for classic film.

Now let's talk about my biggest problem with Me and Earl and the Dying Girl, but be warned the rest of this review includes some spoilers, and should be avoided by anyone who hasn't seen the film. I can accept a movie with an unreliable narrator. It's an interesting trope that can keep the audience off-balance, and lead to an unexpected conclusion. However, this didn't feel like the type of film that warranted that kind of story-telling device. It was particularly egregious when the narrator flat-out lies to the audience. I presume this was necessary because the title strongly makes it too obvious what will happen, so they just have Greg tell a boldfaced lie to everyone watching in order to attempt a surprise ending. This decision sucked a great deal of the emotion out of the climax and had me more frustrated with the protagonist rather than impacted by what was happening. I think it could be fun to watch the movie without the narration to see how it holds up when you remove the needless hand-holding and pointless lies. I still found some enjoyment from the film as a whole, but it was not as great as I wanted it to be.

beautiful tale of friendship

[claytonsam · 8/10 · 5 March 2021]

This movie was something different to what I expected it to be, I thought it was beautiful story that was made beautifully into film

The Vidiot Reviews....

[capone666 · 7/10 · 9 October 2015]

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

The worst thing about being haunted by a teenager is your grocery bill goes through the roof.

Luckily, the adolescent in this dramedy isn't an insatiable apparition just yet.

Forced by his parents (Nick Offerman, Connie Britton) to socialize with Rachel (Olivia Cooke), a classmate with leukemia, Greg's (Thomas Mann) initial visits are as awkward as him.

After exposing her to parodies he and his friend Earl (Ronald Cyler II) filmed, however, their relationship takes on another form.

But those newfound feelings keep Greg from finishing an original film for his fading fan.

While the self-conscious antagonist isn't anything new to coming-of- age tales, the hefty concept of cancer is. So on that merit alone, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl has more poignancy than others of the genre.

Worst of all, when you die young you don't get the chance to grow old and wish you were young again.

Green Light

vidiotreviews.blogspot.ca

Disappointing

[avenuesf · 3/10 · 20 September 2015]

I really wanted to like this movie but I felt absolutely nothing watching it; the film never seemed genuine to me.

The title is very misleading. Earl is hardly seen in the film, and the friendship between the two boys wasn't plausible or believable. Earl was not portrayed in a very sympathetic manner and seemed to me to be a cold, distant, unlikeable character. There was no chemistry between Greg and Rachel, and the film began to take on a morbid, hopeless feeling as it progressed. I have to agree with another reviewer here that the picture seemed more interested in being cute (the short films the two boys made, the self-deprecating humor from Greg) than developing any real characters or relationships between them all. I enjoyed "The Fault in Our Stars," and this reminded me of an attempt to cash in on the same audience, but it didn't have anywhere near the heart that the former film did. It would have been much more meaningful if Greg and Rachel had voiced some acknowledgement at the end that they had meant something to each other. Instead, the film tries so desperately not to be sentimental that it comes across as very distant and emotionless. The film had a very promising beginning, but went way downhill as it progressed.