Watches
June 19, 2023
Doomed romances by terminal illness is a genuine subgenre of Japanese drama, it's not quite as prevalent in the US though. This was a pretty pleasant attempt, not too sappy and with some witty comedy on the side. Sadly, the endless felt somewhat toothless, ending the film with a whimper.
Greg and Earl are childhood friends, who love to make amateur spoofs of classic films. Greg's mom pushes him to befriend Rachel, a girl just diagnosed with leukemia. Greg reluctantly accepts and the three of them become inseparable. Rachel's condition worsens though, and she struggles to keep up the fight.
The performances are solid and there are some quirky visual effects, though the frivolous vibe is mostly present during the first half of the film. The second part becomes more drama and narrative focused, which is where the film loses steam. Better than I expected, but not as good as I'd hoped.