I have been seeing the previews for some time now: Girl (Hazel, played by Shailene Woodley from Divergent) has cancer and meets a boy (Gus, played by Ansel Elgort, also from Divergent) at a support group who also has cancer (but his is in remission). The movie is about their friendship in the context of their illnesses. I thought the movie was really sweet and found it very affecting. I was somewhat nervous that it would become very morose, but it never did; the two leads were so natural as adolescents who, through their illnesses, have a rather wise view of life, and the screenwriter kept enough humor and messages of hope to keep the story from getting too far out of control. I think Woodley is a really wonderful actress, but I thought Elgort balanced her well. Thumbs up for a charming movie that is about living life and felt a lot to me like it might be the “Love Story” for the millenials. Based on the laughs, sniffles, and clapping (in one part of the movie) in a rather full house, the audience also seems to have been satisfied. (2014; 4 Stars)
