A Touching Tear-Jerker with Plenty of Laughs
By Skip Sheffield
“Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.” No, it does not sound like a barrel of laughs. However this small independent film is quite funny, dealing with such a touchy subject, and at times it is moving and even profound.
“Me and Earl etc.” was adapted from the 2013 young adult novel by Jesse Andrews by director Alfonzo Gomez-Rejon, who previously showed an affinity for young people by directing eight episodes of “Glee.”
The “Me” of the title is deadpan narrator Greg Gaines, a 17-year-old Pittsburgh high school senior, played by Thomas Mann. Greg is awkward, alienated and disaffected and even proud that he is not part of any high school clique. His best and seemingly only friend is Earl (RJ Cryer II), who shares Greg’s love of old art house and B movies. Since childhood Greg and Earl have been making crude parodies of famous movies with pun titles such as “400 Bros,” “Seven Seals,” “Breathe Less” and “A Sockwork Orange.”
The dying girl of the title is Rachel Kushner (Olivia Cooke, in a touching, never overwrought performance)). Greg knew Rachel back in Hebrew School. One fateful day Greg’s mom (Connie Britton) solemnly tells Greg Rachel has been diagnosed with leukemia, and says it is his duty to visit her.
Greg is none too pleased about this duty, but when he sees Rachel in her room full of pillows he immediately likes her. His affection for her will grow, and he even introduces her to Earl and shows her some of the silly films they have made.
That’s enough about the plot. There are some interesting supporting characters; particularly Greg and Earl’s favorite teacher, a tattooed too-cool-for school guy named Mr. McCarthy (Jon Bernthal). Greg’s dad (Nick Offerman) is called a sociology professor, but he does not seem to do much of anything. Rachel’s mother (Molly Shannon) obviously has a drinking problem, but nothing is made of it. Then there is the resident weirdo, Ill Phil, played by Masam Holden and the obligatory pretty girl, Madison, played sympathetically by Katherine C. Hughes.
Perhaps I related a little too closely to self-loathing Greg, for I too love movies, made a few of my own, and never felt like I fit in with high school life. I am not alone though, for “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” won both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award for U.S. Drama at Sundance 2015, where it got a standing ovation.
Three and a half stars
