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Pembroke. When the store she was working in is closed, Louise Clark is left unemployed. Her parents and sister Katrina urge her to find any job, so she applies as a caregiver for Will Traynor, a guy who was left paralyzed and in a wheelchair after a motorcycle hit him. Will at first rejects Louise, but they bond when she shows sympathy for him when his ex-girlfriend Alicia visits him to announce her wedding. He shows her his DVD collection of foreign films, and she brings him to a concert. Will's parents hope Louise will bring optimism back to his life, but he is determined to undergo assisted suicide at the Swiss association Dignitas. Louise and Will go to Mallorca and experience a romantic time, but he still decides to end his life. Louisa is in Paris, reading his farewell letter.
"Beauty and the Beast" in a wheelchair—"Me Before You" is one of those movies that tackle a difficult, depressive topic, but do it in an uplifting, humorous and optimistic way, which works very well, all until the viewers gradually forget what they are watching, and all that is left is a story about compassion between two people developing a relationship. The story tackles people living on the margins, in this case a handicapped man bound to a wheelchair, thereby giving them a face and a chance to be humanized. Similarly like "Intouchables" and "Nationale 7", this movie is also able to avoid too heavy melodrama thanks to humor, and also does it with respect. The main virtue is the chemistry between the two protagonists, Will and Louise, his caregiver, who slowly develop into wonderful friends. The movie owes 90% of its appeal to one unsung genius: Emilia Clarke is simply perfect as Louise, delivering an excellent performance, expressing emotions through her gestures and facial expressions, even with her charming eyebrows. Louise is such an excellent character since she is so patient, kind, considerate and caring, and her personality alone is the highlight of this film.
The humorous dialogues help a lot and go a long way. In the opening scenes, Louisa is introduced working in a store. A woman asks her how much calories does a certain dish have, and Louisa replies: "220. But there is less if you eat them standing up". Upon finding a new job as a caregiver, Louisa is stressed because Will is uncooperative, and complains to her sister: "Every time I speak, he looks at me like I'm stupid". - "To be fair, you are pretty stupid". - "Yeah, but he doesn't know that yet". Slowly, though, they start to bond and show empathy towards each other. In one of the best moments, Louisa decides to bring some anarchy into a boring wedding by sitting on Will's lap, and ride with him in the wheelchair on the dance podium. They then have this exchange: "You know you never would have let those breasts come near me if I wasn't in the wheelchair." - "Yeah, well you never would have been looking at these breasts if you hadn't been in this wheelchair". Eventually, Louisa becomes a symbol for eros and Will for thanatos, and they clash over his choice to commit suicide. She wants life to prevail, he wants to give up and end the misery. The movie lacks inspiration and does turn towards the soap opera in the last third, but it also avoids becoming too sentimental: the finale is measured and well edited. "Me Before You" is one of those guilty pleasures not because of trash, but because of emotions that make you enjoy it despite its flaws.
Grade:++
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