The Fault in Our Stars Review

RYAN: I never read the book this movie is based on so I’m thrilled to welcome to the site, a new, young guest reviewer, Oliva, who at 14, has read The Fault in Our Stars, how many times?

OLIVIA: If I finish it again today, it will be nine.

RYAN: Wow. So you’ll bring a great perspective on the film adaptation, but my reaction is – overwhelming.  It’s a very beautiful and powerful movie that’s a rare gem.  It’s like Beaches, or The Notebook.  It’s a romantic drama for the ages.  I was initially turned off by the premise because who wants to see a weeper about kids with cancer?!  But it doesn’t play like that.  It’s about life and love.  It’s really an original almost-romantic-comedy that eventually turns a corner for reality.  It’s beautiful.  What didja think?

OLIVIA: I loved it.  It’s really insightful.  It’s so realistic and that’s what really touches you emotionally.  Not the fact that it’s really sad, but that you can relate to it.  This story puts real life up on the screen.  The characters and dialogue are beautiful and the way it’s all presented: “This is your life and this is what you get…”

RYAN: Absolutely.  Let’s talk about the stars.  I haven’t always enjoyed Shailene Woodley, until The Spectacular Now and Divergent; but she was Oscar worthy in this movie! And she just got better and better as it went on.  I even get emotional remembering certain moments she has in this film – such a brilliant performance.  Let’s start with a book comparison here.  Was she Hazel to you?

OLIVIA: Yes.  When I first read the book, I thought of the character as a bit more low-key than Shailene, but now seeing this, she totally takes Hazel off the pages of the novel and becomes her personality, taking on all she’s going though.  It’s an incredible adaptation.

RYAN: We talked about this a bit before the movie: We’ve both seen Divergent where Shailene and Ansel Elgort play brother and sister, speculating how that would affect us seeing them as lovers in this film.  They completely overcome it!  I never once even thought about Divergent.  They are completely different here.  And while I never thought of Ansel as sexy, but rather cute… he certainly worked all of his charms here as Gus.  You told me you thought the character was sexy in the book.

OLIVIA: Ansel definitely brings out the sexy Gus.  The way he talks is witty and flirty and he lets you know what he’s thinking.  It’s amazing.  They have such spot-on chemistry.  It’s so beautiful to watch, almost like you’re eavesdropping on a conversation when you look at them.  Divergent didn’t occur to me at all either, while watching this.  I prefer them as lovers over siblings.

RYAN: I know! I want a sequel. (laughs)  So I loved this but didn’t read the book.  How does it compare?  Was a lot cut out?

OLIVIA: A couple characters and lines were cut out but nothing major.  What was added and being able to see it and hear it all makes up for whatever omissions were made.  I’m extremely biased because I love this book so much, but it’s an utterly phenomenal adaptation.

RYAN: Were any of the speeches verbatim from the book?

OLIVIA: Yes, some of it I recognized as almost word for word from the book, so many quotes.  One difference is the book is narrated by Hazel but the movie has much less of that.  So a lot of that came together in the dialogue and it works perfectly.

RYAN: Willem Dafoe is so well cast in this in a supporting role, as is Laura Dern.  I don’t know why Willem is so skinny but I loved his hair.

OLIVIA: (laughs)

RYAN: But without giving any spoilers, he has a great arc.

OLIVIA: It was totally how I imagined his character in the book.  He plays a great Van Houten.

RYAN: You read this so you knew what was coming in this movie whereas I was waiting each moment to see what would happen next in the story.

OLIVIA: I was just completely enjoying their performances and characterizations.

RYAN: I’m gonna out us – you more easily than me – but we cried! And at least three times I was wiping away tears.  That speaks to the strength of the actors but also the writing.

OLIVIA: I was crying throughout the whole movie.

RYAN: And the costumes and sets, especially in Amsterdam, looked great.  Were there any moments where the movie was more emotional for you than the book was?

OLIVIA: Yes, a moment with Hazel and her parents affected me more than reading it just because the acting was so good.

RYAN: Do you think your friends would like the movie?

OLIVIA: Definitely.  Whether they’ve read the book or not.  Either way, just see it.

RYAN: So which is better – the book or the film?

OLIVIA: This is rare for me but the book and movie are equally great.  I can’t wait to see it again. I loved it so darn much!!

RYAN: This is the first film in a long time that makes you really year to be in love and feel it.  I love the message in it. It’s so wonderful and celebratory of life and seizing the moment, but it’s also real which is something we don’t often get out of entertainment.  We usually go for escapism.  This movie is so sensitively done and bravely done, so creative… It’s great.

Contributing reviewer, Olivia, is a 14-year-old 8th grader who’s an avid reader (The Harry Potter series 29 times! and The Fault in Our Stars 8.5 times and counting).  She loves all genres of film but especially enjoys those that open her mind and challenge the way she thinks about the world.

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