Me and Earl and the Dying Girl **
Dir: Alfonso
Gomez-Rejon. With: Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke, Connie Britton. 105
mins. Cert: 12A
The title serves as
fair notice: here’s another Sundance-approved pseudo-indie reconstituted from
equal parts quirk and fluff. Whatever insight resided in Jesse Andrews’ YA
novel – about an affectless teen film buff (Thomas Mann) renewed via encounters
with his leukaemia-stricken neighbour (Olivia Cooke) – director Alfonso
Gomez-Rejon doodles over with nerdy movie mock-ups, sensitive Eno soundscapes,
and talking Hugh Jackman posters tacked to wallpaper intended, at the last, to
signify personal growth. The promising Cooke has moments that almost pierce
this artful carapace with something like truth, but it remains a thoroughly
cellophaned package, no more affecting – or lasting – than a vaguely colourful
baguette from an upmarket sandwich chain.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl opens in selected cinemas from today.
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