Common Sense Media Review
By S. Jhoanna Robledo
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Touching but manipulative romantic drama about life, death.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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Me Before You
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 23 parent reviews
Based on 53 kid reviews
Kids say this movie is a powerful and emotional experience, often leaving viewers in tears due to its heavy themes of love, loss, and suicide. While many praise its beautiful cinematography and character development, others caution that the movie's realistic portrayal of difficult topics may not be suitable for younger audiences or those sensitive to depression and euthanasia.
- emotional response
- heavy themes
- character connection
- mature content
- thought-provoking message
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
In ME BEFORE YOU, Will Traynor (Sam Claflin) was once a high-powered financier in London who grabbed life by the horns—but after an accident leaves him paralyzed, all he can think of is the pain he feels on a day-to-day basis, and he longs for a permanent escape. Enter Louisa "Lou" Clark (Emilia Clarke), a quirky, optimistic former waitress who needs a job to help with her family's finances. Even though she doesn't have any relevant experience, Lou is hired to be Will's companion and caretaker. What she does have is a deep well of kindness and joy, which she taps when she decides she wants to give Will a real reason to live. But can love conquer all?
Is It Any Good?
This movie treads a tricky line, both infuriating and charming viewers. In Me Before You, the charm can be chalked up to star Clarke; she makes Lou the type of beguiling creature we've seen in films before who's often known as a "manic pixie dream girl" (MPDG): quirky, irreverent, and usually irresistible. Which is also where the infuriation comes in: The MPDG usually serves the function of making a male main character feel lightened and leavened, without experiencing much development herself. (All we really know about Lou in the movie is that she's cheery, optimistic, and kind; wears wacky clothing; and dreams of being in fashion in some vague way—she was more fully developed, tragic backstory and all, in the book.)
And then there's the fact that Me Before You feels somewhat manipulative, with its BIG. SAD. FEELINGS. No melancholy moment is left unaccompanied by too-on-the-nose music, no delicate interaction between Lou and Will is spared a close-up. There's also a feeling of condescension toward the have-nots and the disabled. Will is portrayed as fundamentally dissatisfied with a life that—even though family money affords him comfort and round-the-clock care—apparently just isn't good enough because he's disabled. Played by nondisabled actor Sam Claflin, Will's unshakable belief that he'd rather die than live a full life with a disability comes off as tactless. But despite all of this, Me Before You works on a certain level. You'll likely cry (in between eye rolls) and be moved and root for the couple, for Lou, and for the idea of hope and renewed joy.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about how Will is portrayed in Me Before You. Do you find his view of being disabled problematic? Can you see why disabled people might? What do you think about how disabled people are portrayed in the media generally? Do disabled characters tend to come off as stereotypes rather than complex individuals?
How do the characters demonstrate compassion? Why is that an important character strength?
How does the film handle the class differences between Lou and Will? Does it glamorize the idea of a "good life"? Does it contradict itself in some ways?
Talk about how movies and TV shows sometimes have idealized female characters whose job appears to be to cheer up male characters and show them another way of living. Is this stereotypical or limiting? Is it uplifting? Can it be both?
For those who've read the book, which do you like better, and why? What parts were left out of the movie that you missed? How do you think they impact the story?
Movie Details
- In theaters : June 3, 2016
- On DVD or streaming : August 30, 2016
- Cast : Emilia Clarke , Sam Claflin , Jenna Coleman
- Director : Thea Sharrock
- Inclusion Information : Female Movie Director(s) , Female Movie Actor(s)
- Studio : New Line Cinema
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters , Friendship
- Character Strengths : Compassion
- Run time : 110 minutes
- MPAA rating :
- MPAA explanation : thematic elements and some suggestive material
- Last updated : October 9, 2025
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