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Me Before You premiered in movie theaters across the country on June 3. Based on the novel of the same name, Me Before You is a love story about Will Traynor, a young man who became quadriplegic after a motorcycle accident, and Louisa Clark, a young woman who becomes his caregiver. Let’s dive in and see what our writers had to say about the film:

Taraneh, who read the book and liked the ending
It’s been a few years since I read Jojo Moyes’s breakout bestseller, Me Before You, and aside from the main plot, here’s what I remember: the whole story sometimes felt a little too cheesy for my taste…but I still teared up at the end and recommend the book. I thought the ending of the book made the book more than just a general women’s romantic fiction book and elevated it to something a bit more meaningful. Anyway, the film adaptation has (as I’d hoped) erased any mild cheesiness and is definitely a movie I’d recommend seeing.

When casting for this movie was announced, I immediately knew both Sam Claflin (our former #MCM) and Emilia Clarke were the perfect Will and Lou. Their chemistry is wonderful, and they are so believable that it’s a little jarring seeing them in other projects (hello, Game of Thrones‘s Mother of Dragons!). Sam gets every tic, every facial grimace, and rare grin exactly right. You can understand Will’s choices, even if you don’t agree with them. Emilia, for the most part, does get Lou’s wackiness, her love of life, and her slightly stuck-in-life attitude. At times, though, she was a bit too over-the-top goofy with her facial expressions; I imagined Lou in the book a little less goofy and more happily eccentric.

The final less-than-stellar comment about the movie I have is something that I think gets lost a lot in adaptations–the luxury of time. In the book, the reader gets to really be a part of Lou’s life. We see her dedication to her parents; we see their dedication to her; we see what she felt growing up; we know exactly how her sister was a teenage mom (and how close she is with her nephew); and, we see how Lou’s boyfriend, Patrick, was a bad fit from the beginning. We also get more information on Will’s family in the book and his relationship with them. In the film, a lot of those things are just touch points since the main focus is on Will and Lou’s relationship.

Overall, though, I really really liked Me Before You. I laughed. I teared up three times throughout the second half of the film (no actual tears, though there were plenty of audible sobs from other audience members). I thought about it for a long time after it ended, and it made me think about love and life. #LiveBoldly

Christine, who never read the book
Eyebrows. That would be my one-word review of the movie. The longer take? Sam Claflin does a wonderful job of portraying Will, a wealthy young man who’s been paralyzed from the neck down in a tragic accident. Emilia Clarke, on the other hand, over-acted with her eyebrows to the point of laughter. Inappropriate laughter. Still, at the end, it was hard not to tear up at the movie’s climax. The two have chemistry, and isn’t that all we’re really looking for in a romantic drama like Me Before You?

Kevin, who read the book, but did not like the ending
Me Before You is a faithful adaption to Jojo Moyes’ bestselling novel. If you’ve read the book, it has all the tear-jerking moments you’re hoping for. And, if you’re like me and cried during the trailer, you’ll need to bring plenty of tissues! Damn those perfectly timed Ed Sheeran songs. You’ll laugh, cry, and get all those tingling feelings after you’ve finished watching the film. Though, I will say, I wish there were less humorous moments, it really prevented me from having a truly ugly cry.

Emilia Clarke is the perfect Lou. She’s quirky, goofy, and loveable, which is a stark contrast to her role on Game of Thrones.  When I thought it wasn’t possible to love her more, she delivers a performance like this! Sam Claflin is an exceptional leading man. I’ll watch just about anything he’s in. And, he does a fine job portraying Will Traynor. He turned into an arse after his accident but can anyone blame him? But, like in the book, he’s a softy who opens up to Lou and changes her life (awww).

*Spoiler Alert*
I’m likely in the minority but I wasn’t a fan of the ending. I’m a hopeless romantic who wanted Lou to change Will’s mind. I went through an emotional roller coaster while reading the novel. There were moments I cried, laughed, and by the end I was angry. Don’t get me wrong; I’m completely sympathetic to anyone who’s in a similar situation like Will. But, part of me was hoping they would change the ending.

Photo Credit: Warner Brothers