Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) and Augustus Waters (Ansel Elgort) are star-crossed teenage lovers who happen to have cancer.
His is in remission, while her’s is responding well to treatment.
After meeting at a support group, the two fall for each other’s charms, slowly at first, then all at once.
With Hazel’s mom Frannie (Laura Dern) chaperoning, the beautiful couple embark to Amsterdam to meet their favourite author, Peter Van Houten (Willem Dafoe).
We say, “It’s a perfect storm of heartstrings.”
TAYLOR: I just watched a great movie with 200 women. There were about 10 men. I counted. Most of the women were actually girls. There was a lot of mewling and sighing, but also a lot of crying, so there’s that to look forward to.
Seriously though, this film is really good. It’s effective, it makes you like the characters and then it rips your heart out. So sit back, and enjoy.
HOWE: Every now and again I get to see a movie that I am not really looking forward to watching, this being one of them. Yet saying that, The Fault in Our Stars sneaked up behind me, reached around the front and stealing one of Mr. Taylor’s lines, ripped my heart out.
This must be one of, if not the most saddest movies I have ever seen. Not since E.T back in the ‘80s have I cried as much at a film. Couple that with two great performances from Woodley and Elgot and to me you have the best movie of the year so far.
TAYLOR: I thought Hazel and Gus were pretty sophisticated teens, but believable taken within the context. After all, these are kids dealing with their own mortality. This makes the film a bit of a bummer, but that too is the point. Like Gus and Hazel we to are supposed to realize that the time we have here is precious, so we should make the most of it.
For this reason I think it’s unfair to think of The Fault in Our Stars as a “chick flick,” or even merely romantic. Everyone loves someone, hopefully. Everyone hates to see loved ones go through illness. The strength of the film is achieved by us being able to appreciate these truisms and that is simply the product of great filmmaking.
– Taylor gives The Fault in Our Stars 4.5 faultless stars out of 5.
– Howe gives it 5 good cries out of 5.
The film is currently playing at the Galaxy Cinemas in Vernon.
– Peter Howe and Brian Taylor are movie reviewers based in Vernon, B.C. Their column runs in The Morning Star Fridays and Sundays.
