Me Before You is predictable, but will still make you cry

Movie Title: Me Before You

Grade: B

Rating: PG-13, 1 hour 50 minutes

In a Nutshell: Adapted by Jojo Moyes from her popular 2012 novel of the same name, this predictable RomCom (romantic comedy) will still make you cry.

Uplifting theme:

“Live boldly. Push yourself.” – William Traynor
“Live well. Just live.” – William Traynor
“There really isn’t much that can’t be solved by a cup of tea.” – Louisa
“You can’t change how people are.” – Bernard Clark

“Then what can you do?” – Louisa

“Love them.” – Bernard Clark

Start working on your Bucket List today. You never know how much time you have left on this earth.
“You need to widen your horizons, Clark. You only get one life to live.” – William
You love whom you serve.

Things I liked:

Emilia Clarke is charming as Louisa Clark. Her quirky fashion sense had the audience full of girls and women giggling every time she donned a new outfit with fuzzy sweater, brightly-colored shoes, and crazy tights. Her boyfriend, Patrick, tells her she looks like a leprechaun drag queen. I don’t watch the porn-filled Game of Thrones TV show, but fans will almost not recognize Emilia Clarke in this Chick Flick.
Sam Clafflin plays the handsome, rich William Traynor. Who wouldn’t fall in love with that irresistible combination? We’ve seen him before as Finnick in The Hunger Games.
Louisa’s sister’s name is Treena. I spell mine “Trina”. Still, we’re almost related.
Filming was done mostly at Pembroke Castle in Wales. I saw some of the coolest castles in Wales last summer when I traveled through the UK. Beautiful landscapes and scenery are layered in the movie.
Louisa is a real woman, nothing fake or phony about her. I laughed out loud when she was running and holding her chest, explaining that she had worn the wrong bra. Been there. Men will never understand the woes of womanhood.
Louisa is embarrassed to wear her mother’s black & white checkered jacket to her job interview because it was from the 1980’s. I actually liked it! Of course, I was a teenager in the 80’s, so I guess that makes sense. Ha ha
It’s really fun to see Matthew Lewis all grown up. Most of us know him as the shy, insecure Neville Longbottom in the Harry Potter films. In this movie, he plays a self-centered runner who is super fit and trim, yet a bit insensitive.
Louisa & William’s first kiss was extremely slow and delicate. Kind of refreshing from some of the attack-mode kisses we usually see on the Big Screen lately.
As a movie critic, I loved the discussion Louisa and William had about movies with subtitles. Sure, it’s a lot of work in the beginning, but a great foreign film will sweep you away to a far away land and envelope you in the story so much that you won’t even remember you’re reading. One of the best foreign films I ever saw was “Life is Beautiful.” At the very end of the movie, you actually hear Americans speaking English. I was so engrossed in the movie that the English actually startled me and broke the trance. I HIGHLY recommend that movie!

Things I didn’t like:

If you have estrogen, you’re probably going to cry.
It’s pretty predictable.

Funny lines:

“You know, Sharon…you can stick your premier badge right up your relaxed dining area.” – Louisa
“A wind concerto?” – William

“I’ve been assured it doesn’t involve farting.” – Louisa

“You’ll think I’m insane!” – Louisa

“That ship has sailed, Clark.” – William
* “Every time I say something, he looks at me like I’m stupid.” – Louisa
“You are stupid.” – Treena
“Yeah, but he doesn’t know that.” – Louisa

Did you notice?

Louisa’s headboard matches her quilted bedspread.
Fans of British comedy will get a kick out of seeing beloved comedienne Joanna Lumley who plays William’s drunk godmother at a wedding. Joanna was often seen playing a drunk character in her smash hit “Absolutely Fabulous.”
William’s old girlfriend says “You know, you can only help somebody who wants to be helped.” Do you think that’s true? Not necessarily true?

Romantic lines:

All the women in the audience swooned when William said “You know, Clark, you are pretty much the only thing that makes me want to get up in the mornings.”
“I don’t want to go in yet. I just want to be a man who’s been to a concert with a girl in a red dress.” – William
“I have become a whole new person because of you.” – Louisa

Tips for parents:

Pre-marital sex. Discussion about positions during sex.
There is a lot of discussion about assisted suicide, which is a very complicated, sensitive subject.
William was in a motorcycle accident that left him as a quadriplegic. You may want to talk to kids about what exactly that means.
Some profanity.
There is a discussion about “Wellies”, which is a British word for rain boots.