Movie Review: Five Feet Apart (2019)

Genre: Romantic Drama  

Director: Justin Baldoni  

Starring: Haley Lu Richardson, Cole Sprouse  

Running Time: 116 minutes  

Synopsis: Teenagers Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse) both suffer from life-threatening cystic fibrosis and live in a dedicated hospital ward. Stella is obsessive compulsive and rigidly follows her medical regime, but the cynical Will is more lackadaisical. They initially clash but gradually start to care for each other, although they need to stay five feet apart to avoid cross-infections. Stella encourages Will to more seriously adhere to his regime, and she agrees to pose for his sketches in return, but many challenges will test their romance.

What Works Well: This young adult romance explores the potential for love under the dark clouds of an early death, and demonstrates the complexities and frustrations of living with dysfunctional lungs. The drama benefits from a committed Haley Lu Richardson performance, and one scar-revealing scene finds sensual tenderness.

What Does Not Work As Well: The dial on every emotion is turned to 11, the characters take turns exploring the depths of angry sulking, the soundtrack is stuffed with mopey songs, the crises are predictably contrived, and the running time well exceeds the available material. It probably all lands well with the target audience of young teenaged girls ready to admire Will's wavy hair and dreamy eyes, but for everyone else, this is no better than the average disease-of-the-week television production.

Key Quote:

Will: It's just life. It'll be over before you know it.

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