Me Before You

Love is always something I have had trouble finding in my own life because of being disabled.  I was lucky enough to find “The One” but extraordinary individuals who happen to have a physical impairment aren’t really given the chance to demonstrate all of the love they can give to someone.  I would love to tell you that disabled people have finally been given a romance film that respects their challenges while acknowledging they are smart exceedingly capable people worthy of finding love but Me Before You is not this.

Emilia Clarke of game of Thrones fame and Sam Claflin star in this supposed romantic comedy about a happy go lucky woman who after being fired from her job at a bakery takes a job being a personal assistant for a disabled man.  The two of course bond and become a couple only for fate to deal them both a cruel blow.

I want so much to like Me Before You but the film has a host of problems.  The main one I see is that Jenna Coleman who plays Clarke’s sister in the film could easily have been the lead of this film and I would have found her infinitely more identifiable than Emilia Clarke who you can put in garbage and she’d still look some form of stunning.

Sam Claflin is the world’s weakest leading man surpassing Jamie Dorman from 50 Shades of Grey.  The reasoning behind my bold assertion is because he does nothing in the film but be cruel to her until the last 20 minutes of the film.  Frankly, I’m tired of people with disabilities being treated as though they are bitter broken people incapable of socialization or friendship.  Not every person with a disability has a chip on their shoulder.  Some people actually use that former chip on their shoulder as a form of motivation and empowerment.  It is not beyond the pale of reasoning that some of the country’s best and most dedicated athletes have a form of disability and they persevere and thrive. Sam’s character Will Traynor wallows in his own misery instead of building himself up to be someone better and that severely impacts the story and my own enjoyment of the film.

As for other supporting characters, in a shocking move Matthew Lewis aka Nevel Longbottom from the Harry Potter film series is in this movie as Louisa’s boyfriend.  This guy is more self-absorbed than he is a dick.  He just never listens to Lou and is all about doing his own thing.  While I can’t say I blame Lou for having trouble in that relationship, I do think he is a better person than Will Traynor who pushes everyone away.  One other person who I found immensely relatable is the male nurse who takes care of Will Traynor throughout Louisa’s time taking care of him.  This nurse is an extremely nice guy and I appreciate the director giving this background character some moments of fun.

The relationship between Will and Louisa makes no sense.  How do you find someone charming who consistently wants nothing to do with life?  The answer apparently for Lou is just keep trying until he allows you to help him.  Me Before You could have been a romantic tale for the ages instead it chooses to make a weak character appear strong instead of teaching her how to be strong.  The film could’ve ranked up there as one of the best romances of this decade but it doesn’t trust its characters enough to make smart decisions.

I love the idea behind Me Before You but the dreadful execution of the story and odd casting choices turn it into a romance I could never root for.