"Best Romance Move of the Decade" my foot.

Rating: 3/10 (20 June 2015)

To explain: I'm not a big fan of romance movies or even romantic comedy movies. If you're going to create one though, you better do it right. This movie is labeled a romantic comedy-drama, which is false. It's more drama than comedy and it's because of the cancer. Oh but it is not the cancer you think of: it's the crappy displays of character that are cancerous.
What do I mean? The main character, Hazel Grace Lancaster (very white name by the way) believes that her fate is inevitable, as she will die of her thyroid cancer. Boring. That's when everything changes when the plot device (no seriously, that's what the book calls him), known as Augustus "Gus" Waters (also a very white sounding name) comes in and have her live for the moment. More Boring. Okay, names aside, these two aren't very interesting to begin with, because they sound as depressed as the role they portray. Hazel sounds like a typical teenager rather than the college student she claims she is, and Gus is as pretentious as they come. On top of that, they are supposed to be head-over-heels because they both have cancer? That's even more depressing!
Some other glaring problems: the parents are perfectly okay with having this "friend" come with them to Amsterdam (most parents would shout "OH HELL NO", even if the trip is complimentary), the Anne Frank scene was way out of place. It made absolutely no sense to hold a "big moment" in there. Kind of a middle finger to Anne Frank if you ask me.
My biggest problem with this whole film, however, is the subplot with the author. Oh my god. This guy is a complete waste of time and energy, for both the characters and the audience. First of all you have him portrayed by Willem Dafoe, which was really out of place. Also, another alcoholic author? Did Stephen King secretly write this script? But by far the most insulting thing to come out of his mouth, as a middle finger to this movie and to the audience, was his mentioning of the Trolley Effect. If you don't know it look it up and you'll see what I mean.
Altogether, this movie I saw because it was a date. We both agreed to not see it again because there was plenty wrong with it to not be willing. I give it a three because there are a few moments that are genuine because I will admit, there is some chemistry, it's just not that good. There's even one funny moment, where the blind guy is egging the car, but it's definitely not enough to save this movie.