Based on the best-selling book by Rachael Lippincott with Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis, Five Feet Apart tells the story of Stella (Haley Lu Richardson) and Will (Cole Sprouse), two teenagers diagnosed with cystic fibrosis; in short, prone to difficult breathing and coughing up mucus due to lung infections, and aren't able to be within six feet of each other in danger of bacteria from one to infect another. They are treated at the Saint Grace hospital in an undisclosed location, and are monitored primarily by head nurse Barb (Kimberly Hebert Gregory). Stella is a vlogger who relies heavily on her "clinical OCD" to attend to the drug trial in which might extend her life. Will, however, has a devil may care attitude towards his sickness, often neglecting his regimen. They're practically opposites attract.
The two major characters in their lives-or, much rather, Stella's life are her childhood best friend, fellow CF patient Poe (Moises Arias), and her older sister Abby (Sophia Bernard). Poe has accepted his illness but has trouble letting others in enough that they might help, which damages any romantic relationships. Abby lives a carefree, wild lifestyle, which she does in order to live life out for Stella as well.
The film goes as expected. Will's morbid view of life clashes with Stella's optimism; she attempts to make him follow his schedule and only succeeds in that they're spending time together (for his benefit, he gets to draw her; not in that Titanic-y way but it's still weird); they sneak out at night to go on fun dates-Stella states about halfway through that the disease has claimed enough of their lives that they can take something back: using a pool cue, she dictates a new five-foot rule of separation.
I can't really form a valid opinion without spoiling at least one thing, so read on at your own risk.
It turns out that Abby died a year prior to the events of the film from a cliff diving accident. Like who could have not seen that coming? The amount of teen melodrama of the past few years only likens this "twist" to the Jeff Atkins plotline on 13 Reasons Why, except here, it doesn't take ten hours to get to that discovery. When Stella discovers that Will's eighteenth birthday is fast approaching, she rallies Poe and their two groups of friends into a surprise birthday party, sharing stories of the past and having a great time until they are discovered by Barb.
I'll leave the rest to the viewer but this thing is just an attempt to cash cow off of "The Fault in Our Stars" (except that was actually GOOD) and Sprouse's success from "Riverdale". The cast is, without a doubt, insanely talented. Their chemistry works, just not for the movie they're in. Put Richardson and Sprouse in a romantic comedy, it's gonna be good. Similar to the cast of Twilight, they're a great ensemble caught in a sappy, laughable melodrama. 2/5.
The two major characters in their lives-or, much rather, Stella's life are her childhood best friend, fellow CF patient Poe (Moises Arias), and her older sister Abby (Sophia Bernard). Poe has accepted his illness but has trouble letting others in enough that they might help, which damages any romantic relationships. Abby lives a carefree, wild lifestyle, which she does in order to live life out for Stella as well.
The film goes as expected. Will's morbid view of life clashes with Stella's optimism; she attempts to make him follow his schedule and only succeeds in that they're spending time together (for his benefit, he gets to draw her; not in that Titanic-y way but it's still weird); they sneak out at night to go on fun dates-Stella states about halfway through that the disease has claimed enough of their lives that they can take something back: using a pool cue, she dictates a new five-foot rule of separation.
I can't really form a valid opinion without spoiling at least one thing, so read on at your own risk.
It turns out that Abby died a year prior to the events of the film from a cliff diving accident. Like who could have not seen that coming? The amount of teen melodrama of the past few years only likens this "twist" to the Jeff Atkins plotline on 13 Reasons Why, except here, it doesn't take ten hours to get to that discovery. When Stella discovers that Will's eighteenth birthday is fast approaching, she rallies Poe and their two groups of friends into a surprise birthday party, sharing stories of the past and having a great time until they are discovered by Barb.
I'll leave the rest to the viewer but this thing is just an attempt to cash cow off of "The Fault in Our Stars" (except that was actually GOOD) and Sprouse's success from "Riverdale". The cast is, without a doubt, insanely talented. Their chemistry works, just not for the movie they're in. Put Richardson and Sprouse in a romantic comedy, it's gonna be good. Similar to the cast of Twilight, they're a great ensemble caught in a sappy, laughable melodrama. 2/5.