The Fault in Our Stars

Why is it that within the genre of comedy, romantic comedies or romcoms are usually written in a predictable, cliché-ish way, whereas dramatic comedies or dramedies are usually written with compassion, pathos, and dash of something heart-warming? I don't know about you, but I'll take the latter in a heartbeat. As with the case of "The Fault in Our Stars", this covered all the aforementioned ingredients of a dramedy and then some.

Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and Gus (Ansel Elgort) are two extraordinary teenagers who share an acerbic wit, a distain for the conventional, and a love that sweeps them--and us--on an unforgettable journey. To make it more complicated, Hazel's best friend is an oxygen tank from thyroid cancer which eventually affected her lungs, and Gus' prosthetic leg which he obtained from an amputation of his leg due to cancer, is something he pokes fun at. Their relationship is all the more miraculous, given that they met and fell in love at a cancer support group.
After getting past the boyfriend/girlfriend stage, the one wish that Hazel has had before she dies is to go to Amsterdam and meet her favorite writer, Peter Van Houten (Willem Dafoe) who wrote her favorite book. After Gus realizes that she already used her wish back when she was a 13 year-old to go to Disney World, which Gus couldn't believe, he offered her his wish, since the trip would be too expensive for her to endeavor. This offer plus Gus' realness and being 'the genuine article' in Hazel's eyes only created a closeness that most people would not even believe. This film explores the funny, thrilling and tragic business of being alive and in love.

Others to round out the cast are Laura Dern as Frannie, Hazel's Mom, Sam Trammell as Michael, Hazel's Dad, Nat Wolff as Isaac, Gus' cancer buddy, Lotte Verbeek as Lidewij, Van Houten's assistant, Mike Birbiglia as Patrick, Milica Govich as Gus' Mom, Ana Dela Cruz as Dr. Maria, David Whalen as Gus's Dad, Randy Kovitz as Dr. Simmons, Toni Saldana as Flight Attendent, Emily Peachy as Monica, and Emily Bach as Monica's Mom.

This was extremely well delineated by director Josh Boone ("Stuck in Love" '12). This young director is new in the proverbial director's chair, but after viewing this and watching the chemistry of these two characters blossom in a careful, yet steady way was simply well played out. It was equally well written by Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber based on the book by John Green. Kudos to Green for writing a book with a unique and fresh approach to death and dying that we just don't like to tread on at all. Also kudos to Neustadter and Weber for adapting Green's book for the screen so others ,that aren't into reading very much, can learn so much in how we, as a society, can be open and communicate about diseases and dying in a healthy way. This was a superb, poignant, and even entertaining script and presentation thereof. Woodley and Elgort shined in this--both equally and are actors to look for in future projects.

If you're looking for well-crafted filmmaking at its finest, this is definitely one that will keep one riveted. The premise alone should get you in theater: two teenage cancer survivors getting to know one another and subsequently falling in love. This is not the typical love story, but this is why you are sitting in that theater seat.

Out of 4 Stars: 4                          Rated: R                         125mins.