Despite the problematic nature of the plot of Me Before You, Emilia Clarke is stunning in the role of Lou Clark, a character far different from Daenerys Targaryen, but no less fierce.
There’s a lot to love about Me Before You, especially as its cast ties together four of the most beloved fantasy/dystopian series of the last 10 years, but it’s not without its problems. For every part that enchants you, there’s an equal part that keeps you from ever fully falling in love with the story as a whole. Check out our thoughts on the strengths and weaknesses of Me Before You below, and judge for yourself whether this movie is a triumph or a tragedy.
Strengths
Emilia Clarke
There is one thing about this film that works on all counts: Emilia Clarke. She was perfectly cast as the positive, quirky Lou Clark, and the role shows just how far her range can stretch. Lou is about as far from Daenerys Targaryen as you could possibly imagine, what with her colorful wardrobe and cheery disposition.
Whether she’s handling Will with kid gloves in the first half of the movie, gabbing with her sister, or strolling on the beach, Lou Clark rings authentic and fun. Emilia Clarke’s portrayal of her is nothing short of mesmerizing. As she bounces around the surly and sardonic Will Traynor, you’ll find yourself wishing for just an ounce of her positivity.
This is never more evident than in the early montage of her character’s arrival to the Traynor home during the first 10 days of her employment. No matter what the weather, Lou always arrives with a smile on her face and a dash of color to add to his world. Emilia could easily have turned Lou into a bumbling amalgamation of every colorful, quirky character ever to grace our screens. Instead, we see a truly lovely woman who is content to find the beauty in life, and is unconcerned with what others think of the life she lives.
Supporting Cast
The supporting cast in this film is absolutely phenomenal. From Matthew Lewis’ casting as Lou’s exercise-obsessed boyfriend to Janet McTeer’s limited role as Traynor’s desperate mother, the supporting cast helps to keep the dreariness of Will’s life from overtaking the atmosphere of the film. You’ll undoubtedly leave Me Before You wishing you could see more from Lou’s mother and father, Henri Charles and Samantha Spiro, her sister, Jenna Coleman, Will’s parents, Janet McTeer and Charles Dance, as well as Lou’s well meaning, but wildly oblivious boyfriend, played adorably by Matthew Lewis. There are reaction scenes and plot points that could have truly allowed the supporting cast to shine if only they’d been able to find a few more moments to highlight them.
Costumes
Costuming a quirky character can quickly devolve into finding the most ridiculous outfits possible and seeing if it is at all possible to one up the last one that Hollywood churned out. Me Before You manages to showcase the fantastic costuming talents of Jill Taylor in Lou’s specific sense of style.
It would be easy for Emilia to get lost in all the colors and patterns that Lou sports from beginning to end in Me Before You, but the costuming always seems to heighten her performance, rather than dictate it. The bulky sweaters that Lou dons in the first half of the film read as armor against the stern and grumpy countenance of Will Traynor. Lou never loses her sense of fun and color, and even rocks some adorable tropical print dresses while in the tropics, but does so without ever feeling cartoony or over the top. Jill Taylor has done fantastic work in colorful projects before (including 2006’s Penelope), but we truly think she outdid herself here.
Weaknesses
A two-dimensional male lead
The problems with Me Before You start and stop with Will Traynor. While Sam Claflin did marvelously in the role, we wish there were more depth and introspection with his character. From the beginning, it’s clear that Will wishes that the motorcycle that hit him had killed him instead of maiming him. He is a miserable human being who only seems interested in sharing his misery with those around him.
When Lou comes into his life and makes him laugh, you expect to see a change in him, but it’s as if those laughs never truly reach his eyes. While Lou is busy learning more about the world and trying to find a way to convince a man she has learned is more than just his injuries, he never seems to take more than a passing interest in the woman who is trying to change his world.
The sole moment of true growth for him in the film would be when he attends Lou’s birthday dinner at her home. He is gracious and understanding and doesn’t seem to hold any of her family’s blunders against them. It seems that Will has found some sort of peace with others’ inabilities to fully understand him, but the rest of the film doesn’t highlight that growth or push it any further.
Learning more about him before his accident, during his recovery, or even just seeing more about his struggles would have gone a long way to making him a fully-fledged character, but the film never takes the time. Will Traynor is nothing more than a privileged adventure-seeker that was in the wrong place at the wrong time and gave up all hope the moment he woke from his accident.
Sets a bad example
We highly suggest that everyone check out fellow Hypable writer Brook Wentz’s article on the problems that the story in Me Before You presents. There are far greater issues with this movie than the superficial ones or even with the morality of Will’s ultimate choice. The depiction of disability in this film isn’t necessarily glamorized, but it’s also not entirely realistic. Disability does not have to be debilitating, even in Will’s case as a quadriplegic. There is more to life than jumping off cliffs and riding motorbikes.
The film even goes so far as to give Will a purpose outside of the adventure-seeking in that he was a competent and successful businessman before his accident. Nothing about his disability takes even an ounce of his sharpness and mental acuity away from him, but instead, he resigns himself to the life of a directionless hermit.
There is so much more that Will could have done and been in this world, and the true tragedy of this film is that he never looks for a new way to live. It is clear that Will has given up on the world, and has no interest in carving out a new niche for himself, even with everyone in his life begging him to try.
Ultimately
While Me Before You is a well made film that perfectly showcases the abilities and talents of Emilia Clarke in all her glory, it is not without its problems. Thematically, there are positive messages that can be gleaned from this story, but each message seems tinged with convoluted motivations. Lou’s growth in the film is lovely, but since it comes at the prodding of a surly, broken soul, it doesn’t ring truly authentic. We wish we could love this story more, as the cast is brilliant, but there’s something about this story that keeps you from ever truly falling in love with it.