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

posted in: Drama, Romance | 0
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.

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Author, university professor

Author of 23 books, university professor, mom of 4 awesome sons, movie critic, ice cream lover. Check out her world travels and tips at www.EmptyNestTravelHacker.com

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