Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is Heartbreaking Reality

A grand coming-of-age film that captures the pure essence of what it means to be a friend. 

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Pulling in the handkerchief moments, Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is an emotional adolescence journey from beginning until end. This indie-weeper delivers the powerful message about a shy teen and a terminally ill girl forced to start a friendship. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a real tearjerker that one cannot possibly shake off and has become the summer sleeper hit of 2015. Meet Greg (an excellent Thomas Mann) who is just trying to easily slide through the terrors of high school without any disruptions. 

That is, until his mom forges him into starting a friendship with a classmate he barley knows, named Rachel (a heartfelt Olivia Cooke). Rachel has just been diagnosed with leukemia and is mentally and emotionally trying to stay calm through this life-changing situation. This is Greg’s toughest assignment now, by trying to make Rachel’s life the most meaningful with what time she has left. Greg is an aspiring filmmaker, who along with his partner Earl (RJ Cyler), make short parody films to pass time. Featuring titles like Pooping Tom, A Sockwork Orange and Senior Citizen Kane. 

They introduce Rachel to these films and she gets it and so do we. Mann, Cooke and Cyler’s chemistry excels throughout the film has they become the stars of tomorrow, showing off Hollywood’s newest talent. Greg tells us that Rachel doesn’t die, but can we as the audience believe him in these nicely placed voice-overs? It’s your call. 

Director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon does a brilliant job in adapting the novel’s central core onto the screen as we see lives change, heartaches blossom and relationships deepen. Gomez-Rejon whips the camera around to show Greg’s point-of-view periodically throughout this teen drama. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl hits you hard in the end and captures a moment of life, tears and film. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl left me balling and I’m sure it will impact you as well. 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is rated PG-13 (Parents Strongly Cautioned). For sexual content, drug material, language and some thematic elements.