Film Review: The Fault In Our Stars (2014)

At the Theater - "The Fault In Our Stars" - (2014) - This Drama/Comedy/Romance tale concerning the blossoming love affair between two young adults whose lives have been irrevocably interrupted by personal battles with cancer is sure to strike a few chords with those who've lost loved ones to the disease and will more than likely find even the most jaded viewers with a case of "watery eyes".  Director Josh Boone's (Stuck In Love) feature film adaptation of John Green's bestselling novel (of the same title) is powered by two excellent performances from its two leads; though secondary characters are thin and a couple of subplots are a bit underdeveloped, the chemistry between Shailene Woodley (Divergent) and Ansel Elgort (Carrie 2013) is undeniable strong.

I was surprised to find a few genuine laughs given the subject matter- the witty, natural exchanges between Woodley's highly intelligent, though understandably weary "Hazel" and Elgort's carefree but charismatic "Gus" are worthwhile throughout.  The immensely talented Woodley continues a stellar run here while more seasoned film lovers will find the twenty-year-old Elgort quite reminiscent of a young Jeff Bridges (circa 1974's Thunderbold and Lightfoot)- the similarity in their looks and mannerisms is uncanny. 

I was fine with a first kiss that occurred at the Anne Frank house, though I didn't care at all for the applause from several onlookers- it was indeed gaudy.  The character of "Isaac" (Nat Wolff), an annoying friend of Gus's battling impending blindness, seemed pulled from a lesser film while a subplot involving  a crusty, alcoholic writer (Willem Dafoe) is strangely mishandled.  I found myself wishing there had been a bit more for Laura Dern (Jurassic Park), portraying Hazel's mother, to do here- I had forgotten that she's actually a very good actress.  There are still many poignant and heartfelt sequences to counterbalance these deficiencies- the onscreen couple keeps matters elevated while the romance angle rarely hits a false note.  Expect a warmly captured movie that features a nice soundtrack- while it may be a tad overlong, the film doesn't necessarily overstay it's welcome.

Those who haven't read the book should understand that events do take a tragic turn rather late, though from a somewhat unexpected direction.  There's a surprising amount of honesty mixed in with the obligatory helping of melodrama- The Fault... intermittently brushes against greatness though never can quite secure it's grip on the distinction.  The film is still very much worthwhile for those interested and comes Highly Recommended. 

Yes, I had a few tears slide down my cheeks- I usually just act like I'm adjusting my hat when wiping away the evidence...

8.5 out of 10

Director: Josh Boone
Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell, Nat Wolff, Lotte Verbeek and Willem Dafoe
Run-Time: 126 minutes
MPAA: Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some sexuality and brief strong language