Based on Jesse Andrews 2012 debut novel, this comedy-drama blends a teen coming-of-age story and cancer tragedy. That’s sounds as bad as milk and Pepsi, or a bacon shake, but like those, it somehow works. Finesse may have something to do with it: the practiced hand of Alfonso Gomez-Rejon directs and chances are, you know him.
Gomez-Rejon directed American Horror Story (2011-2014) and Glee (2010-2011), as well as The Carrie Diaries (2013) and Red Band Society (2014). It’s as if he’s been preparing for this very film for the last 5 years.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl enjoyed a standing ovation from the audience at Cannes this year, and took both the Grand Jury Prize for Drama as well as the Audience Award for Drama. (Ryan Reynolds was booed there in 2014 for his pet project The Captive – it can be a really tough crowd.)