Wonderful performances help to overcome clichés

Rating: 7/10 (20 September 2014)

By all rights this should've collapsed under the weight of its many tragi-romance clichés and conventions, but despite its worst efforts at times--pretty sick people, characters who are bursting with wisdom and always have just the right thing to say, an on the nose emo-pop soundtrack that kicks in at just the precise moment--a pair of fantastic performances ultimately prevail to make 'The Fault of Our Stars' a moving winner.
Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort give performances that deserve to be recognized come Oscar time. Their chemistry is something special and they absolutely lift this movie up on their shoulders and carry it. The supporting cast is also strong, particularly Laura Dern.
Manipulative? Sure. Cliché? Oh yeah. Moving? Absolutely.