Cringeworthy Movie Adaptation

Rating: 3/10 (13 June 2016)

I saw this film without any premise of what the book was about. However, I did watch it with someone who had read the book and was able to compare and contrast the two mediums. Though the scenic locations and setting for the movie is iconic, this movie was so unbearable to watch based on the relationships alone.
Firstly, the whole movie pays so little attention to exactly how bad Lou's boyfriend is, that any sane person would take his side. Therefore, the entire film is about cheating, half-truths and seduction rather than romance. Lou's shallow character archetype of the "quirky" girl in bright tights serves only to reinforce the idea that she is naive and selfish. After being in a relationship for 6 years with her bf, - who at this point trusts Lou's support in his fitness dreams - Lou suddenly drops it all for a hidden love affair with a "broken" heart throb. The birthday scene alone was so unbelievable that she would pay so much attention to this mysterious man rather than her boyfriend across the table that it left me wandering how come no one warned her about what she was doing. Oh yes, her sister talked to her about it...but suggested arranging lap dances for her patient instead?! Doesn't her sister know she is already attached to her boyfriend Patrick? What lousy advice there!
No more than 20 minutes into the movie, every romantic scene turned into a scene of betrayal and hidden intentions. The book may have gone into more detail regarding exactly how much of a douche Lou's boyfriend Patrick really was, but this movie glazed over it so superficially that I ended up feeling sorry for the poor guy. He did not even lose his temper or have a big dramatic scene. His character was just swept under the rug for the conclusion of the movie to happen.
Horrible movie, unless you are a romantic sap who condones betraying those who care about you, or you are easily impressed with Emilia Clarke's go-to scrunched up 'sad' face and dancing eyebrows.