Eyes brimmed with tears and noses sniffled to no avail at Friday’s midnight premiere of “The Fault in Our Stars.” Those who read John Green’s popular young adult novel prior to seeing the film knew not to arrive at the theater without a newly purchased box of Kleenex and a comforting hand to hold. Those who had not, however, unknowingly sat down for a two hour emotional roller coaster ride that they’re likely to never forget.
Adapted for the screen by the talented two-man writing team who brought us “(500) Days of Summer,” “The Fault in Our Stars” — a love story about two teens suffering from cancer — is a heartbreaker, but it’s also an innocently romantic film full of unexpected humor and warmth. It captures everything about being young and in love for the first time, from the shared inside jokes to the simple physical joy of being close to someone who likes you.
Unlike movies of the past that revolve around the conflict of terminal cancer, the film never portrays its characters as tragic heroes. Instead it chooses to highlight the characteristics that make them human, paying special attention to their fears, their hopes and the way they learn to live despite knowing they’re going to die.
The film’s central character, Hazel (Shailene Woodley of “Divergent” and “The Descendants”) was diagnosed at a young age with thyroid cancer that spread to and weakened her lungs. Because of this, her constant companion is an oxygen tank she drags behind her wherever she goes. Though her faithful tank is always by her side, it becomes apparent that Hazel doesn’t have many friends, presumably because she has been in and out of hospitals since she was a child.
Concerned about her constant isolation and impending depression, her parents (Laura Dern and Sam Trammell) talk her into participating in an unbearably cliche support group for young cancer patients. There she meets Gus (Ansel Elgort), the most likable 18-year-old to ever walk the Earth. He’s intelligent, attractive and the sort of rebellious heartthrob who puts a cigarette between his lips but never lights it, a “metaphor” for spitting in Death’s eye. Can you hear the teenage hearts pounding?
Gus, whose leg was amputated as a result of his treatment, is presumably cancer-free when he meets Hazel; he’s only attending the support meeting for his friend Isaac (Nat Wolff), who’s losing his eyes to another form of the disease. He immediately takes a liking to Hazel though she is initially wary of any deeper feelings.
With his irresistible charm, he persuades her to come over to his house to watch a movie. Thus we have the beginning of a beautifully tragic story.
The plot revolves around the planning of a three day vacation to Amsterdam to meet a reclusive writer (Willem Dafoe) whose novel Hazel has practically memorized. Conflict ensues when her health takes a turn for the worse. Her doctors begin to fear that she will not be well enough to travel so far — but the real charm of “The Fault in Our Stars” lies in the sweet moments between Gus and Hazel, when they’re picnicking at a park or joking around with Isaac or dressing up for their first grown-up date and beaming at each other over risotto.
The key to any romantic movie is the chemistry between its stars. Woodley and Elgort, who played brother and sister in the recently released sci-fi adventure “Divergent,” follow in the steps of Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze in “Dirty Dancing.”
She visibly lights up in his presence; he looks at her with unwavering adoration.
Though the two young actors are relatively new to the silver screen, they flawlessly sell the illusion that they are irrevocably in love.
“The Fault in Our Stars” is more than your stereotypical movie full of teenage angst. It illustrates that living a truly full life isn’t something that has to be determined by years of existence, and leaving behind a mass of adoring fans isn’t necessary.
Just being madly, deeply adored by a few good people is more than enough to make our existence worthwhile.
