Reel Snippet – Me and Earl and the Dying Girl
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is a quirky comedy… or is it a tragedy… or a drama… or a bittersweet yet heartwarming tale of coming into your own… ah jeez, what ever WAS this movie? There are so many ingredients in this cinematic chili that it’s hard to really give it a hard label of spicy, salty, or sweet. The one word that does seem to sum it up is “uncomfortable,” but unlike other films that fall into this category because of ineptitude, that seems to be what this film is embracing. Everything from the humor to the characters and beyond are so out of the comfort zone of the average viewer that it’s hard not to be transfixed. “Quirky” doesn’t even begin to describe it.
What makes this film work is its ability to exist in its own skin without giving a toss if it’s being conventional. The main character is not your average likable everyman, but absurdly pretentious and so insecure that he can’t even bear to connect with anyone, even the audience. He’s not endearing, but he’s not supposed to be; the movie is showing him from an outside perspective and how his mannerisms are self-destructive. Yet the fact that he has enough shreds of self-confidence to do his own thing, as shown by the mountains of spoof movies that he and Earl make, are what keeps him engaging (examples of said spoofs are “Eyes Wide Butt” for Eyes Wide Shut, “A Sockwork Orange” for A Clockwork Orange, and “2:15 Cowboy” for Midnight Cowboy, just to name a few).
When I walked away from this movie, I didn’t know how to feel and I’m still in that state. It’s definitely good, but it’s also very hypnotic and not going to leave the audience in a clear state of mind on where to go next. It’s so intriguing that I have to recommend it so you’ll form your own opinion about it. Just don’t go in expecting something as saccharine as The Fault In Our Stars.
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