When I first saw the previews for “The Fault In Our Stars” I dismissed it as just another teen romance, with the word cancer inserted, for what I thought was just for dramatic effect. I couldn’t have been more wrong though, as it turns out, it was one of the most touching, poignant, and emotionally satisfying movies that I have ever seen. The performances from all of the cast, were full of such authenticity, and sincerity, that you just don’t find very often in the average movie of today. This picture is really all about the acting.
The plot involves 2 teenagers, 16 year old Hazel, played by Shailene Woodley, who is currently battling thyroid cancer, and a teenage boy, Gus, played by Ansel Elgort ; who has osteosarcoma that is thankfully in remission. Although, he did have to have part of his body removed, in order to survive it.
The opening scene finds Hazel watching other teenagers at a cafe, having fun, and falling in love with each other. The look on Hazel’s face at that moment , evokes such a feeling of sympathy, you just wish you could reach through the screen and giver her a hug, or some sort of reassurance. But there is no comfort for her. Only the loneliness of fighting a war inside your own body.
Her parents, Frannie, played by Laura Dern, and Michael, played by Sam Trammell, really don’t hold anything back. There every mannerism, and emotion comes to the surface, from their tone of voice, to the way they embrace their daughter, you really believe they are experiencing the fight of their lives too; as they battle every day to hold on to just little bit of hope.
Fortunately for Grace, her parents persuade her to join a support group, for those who have cancer. She agrees reluctantly, and for a change, her stars align, as she meets Gus, a survivor, with a sense of passion, and humor, that she so desperately needs to be around. He makes an indelible impression, and despite her skepticism, he gradually wins her over. As she comes to realize, she needs somebody like him in her life.
He falls deeply in love with her, and although she won’t admit it at first , she does too. From there, your going to experience some changes in the plot , that would be better left unsaid. As there effect is something you need to be able experience with out knowing before hand, in order to fully appreciate this movie.
Suffice it to say, the adage “It is better to have loved and lost, than to have never loved at all” fits this story perfectly.
It was interesting for me to take note of the audience demographics in the theater we went to. Surprise, surprise, it was probably about 90% women, all the other men, including myself, seemed to be there with either with there girlfriend or their wife. The age range though, was from teenage, to people well in to their old age. Which really tells you that this kind of story appeals to a wide age demographic.
Now, I have to come to the part , that I’m a little embarrassed to admit . No matter how hard you fight it , your probably going to shed some tears, as I did. But you know what , so is everybody else in the theat er. At the end people were even clapping in appreciation. As my wife summed it up, this movie didn’t need any fancy special effects t o make an indelible impression, it only needed to tell a real love story, and this movie couldn’t have done it any better.
You need to see this movie.
