Mike McCahill 

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl review – quirky, fluffy YA novel adaptation

An affectless teenager’s life is turned around when he encounters his leukaemia-stricken neighbour
  
  

Olivia Cooke and Thomas Mann in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl.
Sundance-approved pseudo indie … Olivia Cooke and Thomas Mann in Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Photograph: Anne Marie Fox



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.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl - video review

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.

 

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