Movie Review: Me Before You

Posted 14 September, 2016 by Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms in Reviews / 34 Comments

Movie Review: Me Before You

Young and quirky Louisa "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke) moves from one job to the next to help her family make ends meet. Her cheerful attitude is put to the test when she becomes a caregiver for Will Traynor (Sam Claflin), a wealthy young banker left paralyzed from an accident two years earlier. Will's cynical outlook starts to change when Louisa shows him that life is worth living. As their bond deepens, their lives and hearts change in ways neither one could have imagined.

On the plane from Geneva to JFK, I finally got the opportunity to watch Me Before You and I actually loved it! Even more so than the novel, which I buddy-read with my blogger-wife. In some ways, I think this is because the contrasts came out better for me in the movie. The contrast between the cozy huis clos inside Will’s annex and socializing in the outside world. The huge contrast between Lou’s light hearted mess and the heavy emotional message of the story.

I didn’t cry much when reading about Will and Lou, but my eyes stayed red and puffy for a good while after the movie was over. The actors were well chosen, they really conveyed their characters’ emotions well. Especially the actress who played the part of Lou, she has the most expressive eyebrows I have ever seen. Me Before You was a well-written book, and it’s an even better-done movie!

The scenes that were cut from the movie didn’t take away from my enjoyment in the least, I think, perhaps, that the faster pace worked better for me. The location shots were well done, and the musical choices did me in.

I recommend the movie both to those who read the book and loved it (or not) and those who haven’t gotten to the novel just yet. Bring your tissues and be ready for Lou to wow you, just as she wowed Will!

Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

About Linda @ (un)Conventional Bookworms

Linda is an English as foreign language teacher and has a Master's degree in English Language and Literature. She's an avid reader, blogger, compulsive one-clicker and a genre omnivore. Ever since she learnt how to read she has been seen with a book or two in her hands everywhere she goes.

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34 responses to “Movie Review: Me Before You

  1. I know that I would cry my eyes out for this one so when I see it I will be at home alone. 🙂

    I’m glad to hear you think it was as good or better than the book. I look forward to seeing the good actress.

    Thanks for sharing your thoughts about it, Lexxie!

  2. Berls
    Twitter:

    Hmmm I haven’t read this book yet and, considering I have way too many books on my TBR, maybe I’ll just do the movie. It’s rare that a movie does better than the book but it’s a nice surprise when it does. I’m glad you enjoyed it so much! Hope all is well, hugs!!!

    Berls recently posted: Top Ten Urban Fantasy Reads
  3. Lekeisha
    Twitter:

    I think the cast did an amazing job, especially Emilia Clarke. I already love her and they couldn’t have found a more perfect Lou. I cried (my step- daughter kept me supplied with Kleenex) but I didn’t have a hard time stopping like when I read it. I was prepared but if I hadn’t read the book before seeing it, I would have been a bawling mess.

  4. Just the freaking trailer made me cry!!! I still haven’t seen the movie but I’ll see if I can find it soon. I *did* want to see it. I’m glad the movie was better somehow than the book was for you – I’m thinking it was the faster pace. And maybe getting to really see the setting… Oh, and the MUSIC! Anyway, I’ll let you know once i see it, wifey!
    By the way, my computer mysteriously started working again. Hmph! I don’t know what I’m going to do about its issues…except love it and pet it for working right now. 😉 Love and *BIG HUGS*
    p.s. I agree with you about her eyebrows. O-O

    Bookworm Brandee recently posted: Brandee's Bookish Babble #24 ~ Commenting Woes
    • Yeah, the trailer alone is very strong, and it’s nice that the whole movie lives up to it, you know? Music!! That makes things even more emotional to me 😀 I’m glad your computer is working again, hopefully, it was just this one-time glithc! *BIG HUGS*

  5. Oh, you’ve settled the dilemma for me. I haven’t yet watched the movie, and it’s been a while since I read the book…which was not my favorite by the author.

    Now I must download the movie immediately! Thanks.

  6. Yessssss, I actually have to write my own review of this movie but I completely agree with everything you wrote. I liked the movie better than the book and I wasn’t okay when both ended. My heart hurt and I didn’t cry nearly as much when reading the book as I did when I saw the movie. The casting was perfect too!

  7. I just might watch this. I haven’t read the book so I’ll be watching the movie “blind”. I love Emilia and Sam, I have celebrity crushes on them both so there’s that plus it’s nice to know that they have good onscreen chemistry.

  8. Interesting take on this^^ so often the book is better but in a few instances the movie just seems to work better than the book did so that’s always refreshing. I haven’t read the book or seen the movie but I felt more drawn to the movie so now that I’ve read your thoughts here, I might just go ahead and watch the movie first *gasp* hehehe

    Micheline @ Lunar Rainbows Reviews recently posted: Review: Every Word
  9. i haven’t read it since I know it’s heartbreaking. I might be better able to watch it. I have only ever watched one movie on an airplane and it was sad and I was so embarrassed crying when it was over. My Dog Skip-so you can imagine me crying over a romance! Glad you loved it!

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