Me Before You Review

Me Before You takes all the good elements of a chick flick and tells a heart warming story that successfully aligns all elements to produce one of the more superior comedy-dramas of the year.After losing her job, Louisa Clark (Emilia Clark) is hired as a care assistant to the recently disabled Will Traynor (Sam Claflin).On the whole, director Thea Sharrock does a decent job in the director’s chair. With previous experience taking Shakespeare to the big screen, it would seem like an odd choice for the up and coming director but thankfully for us, it’s definitely a step in the right direction. The plotline is kept nice and simple, solely focused on the relationship rather than the situation. This type of storytelling not only helps with pacing but also helps keep the audience on track rather than getting bogged down in some of the morally complex issues surrounding the central plot.Without a doubt, the strongest element is easily the screenplay. Adapted for the screen by the original author Jojo Moyes, the writer’s connection to the source material is evident throughout. With character development that is rarely seen within this genre of film, the charming script and instant connection you feel toward the main character are particularly noteworthy, particularly when you look at issues book adaptations often face (Fifty Shades of Grey....ahem!).What would this story be however without the ever charming personality of Emilia Clark. Perfectly embodying Louisa, Clark’s instant charm anchors the story perfectly, giving the audience someone to both empathize as well as get behind. Sam Claflin is also fairly decent, a surprising choice given difficulty a role like this could be. What really gives this grounding though is the supporting cast. Charles Dance and Janet McTeer are perfect as Wills parents while familiar faces Jenna Coleman and Matthew Lewis provide interesting sub-characters to interact with.Overall, with a charming performance from Emilia Clarke and a plot that manages to avoid the simple clichés, Me Before You brings us a story both heart warming as well as heartbreaking. 4 out of 5 stars.