Bittersweet and darkly humorous love story

Rating: Null/10 (29 November 2014)

I have not in fact read the book, so this review is based solely on the merits of the film on its own. And I gotta admit, it's a fine movie. Sure the whole message of the film is a touch convoluted as it all starts with the whole speech about how this is not some overly romantic love story coated in saccharine. And yet it kind of is, at least it starts to be as soon as we meet Augustus (Ansel Elgort), one of the savviest, most perfect 18-year-olds ever seen in cinema. And yet that dichotomy doesn't really bother me, because teenagers do that. They think their sufferance is special, unique, and they draw strength from that. It feels real that way.
As a whole this is one of the most touching love stories I've seen in a while. A lot of that is due to the phenomenal chemistry between Elgort and Shailene Woodley, playing the main character Hazel. You totally buy that these teens are in love and the movie wastes no time in getting them together, starting the saccharine. In some movies this would be rather Disney-esque, but here it seems more like a stylistic choice. Like they wanted to focus on the actual relationship instead of how it started. And that relationship is very fine. Full of sarcastic humour, snarkiness, tenderness and some really good conversations, it's a romance you won't get tired of watching, no matter your age or gender.
The script is also very well paced, the rest of the cast is equally talented, the story contains enough joy and sorrow to reach you and as a whole it's a pleasant way to spend an evening. Definitely recommended for all. And now I kind of have to read the book as well.