A Movie Review: Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Can a movie about death inspire? This movie does. Greg Gaines (Thomas Mann) is in his senior year at high school. His life has certain pluses and minuses. He has an ability to get along with all the various high school cliques. So though his lanky appearance and moody personality might lead one to believe he'd get bullied, he is able to navigate away from that. The downside to not being a true member of a clique is that it limits his real friends. He only has one real friend, a person he is reluctant to call a friend, Earl (Ronald Cyler II). The two of them enjoy making re-interpreted films of movie classics. Other than the lack of real friends, a serious minus in Greg's life is his very low self-esteem.

After coming home from school one day, his mother informs him that a classmate named Rachel Kushner (Olivia Cooke) was diagnosed with leukemia. She presses him to visit Rachel. Greg is apprehensive about this. Though he knows Rachel, he isn't close to her. He eventually agrees. The two of them have a very awkward first meeting at her house as both agree that neither is all that interested in talking to the other. They eventually break the ice and soon hang out together on a regular basis. In fact, Greg is one of the few individuals of the same age bracket that is there to support Rachel through her struggles.

During one of his visits with Rachel, he brings along Earl. This meeting soon leads to Rachel viewing the films that Greg and Earl make. One of Rachel's other friends Madison (Katherine C. Hughes) convinces Greg and Earl to make a movie for Rachel. This request creates enormous pressures on Greg as he attempts to stretch himself beyond his comfort zone.

I just love this movie. This movie doesn't make death into a tear-jerker, but instead focuses on life. There are some wonderful side stories to this movie. One of those side stories is the awkward friendship between Greg and Madison. Greg has an enormous crush on Madison. What he doesn't realize -- driven by his low self-esteem -- is that Madison has a crush on him. He just won't allow himself to believe that one of the cutest girls at the school isn't out to manipulate him, but is instead interested in him.

More on the focus on life: Rachel knows she's dying, but she presses on Greg the importance of living. She emphasizes the importance of him applying to college. At the same time, she has a dying wish, she wants to see Greg's movie dedicated to her: a focus on the next step while enjoying what you can about the present.

A minor issue with the movie: I could have done without the cliche high school movie scene of walking into the cafeteria and passing each different clique.

My question: why hasn't this movie done better at the box office? I wonder if this movie is meant to have more meaning for adults versus teenagers.