When a movie's title alludes to death, it can be assumed that its subject matter will be dark. So it's surprising that Friday Me, Earl and the Dying Girl , despite its ominous name, is actually a pretty uplifting film that focuses more on comedy and sweetness than on Not sickness and death. Still, this is a movie about cancer, and it's not without its heartbreaking moments. There's no doubt that this movie will make you cry, but the question is, how much will Me and Earl and the Dying Girl make you cry? A light, Love Actually- esque sob, or a heavy, don’t go out in public , The Fault in Our Stars-esque sob?
Well, it all depends on your tolerance for sick teenagers, emotional music, and the serious side of the SNL cast. Assuming tears are low, though, be prepared to shed at least a few tears during the screening, and if you're notorious for crying during commercials and sad Taylor Swift songs, be sure to have a pack of tissues nearby.
It's not all sadness and devastation, though. There are many joyful and even celebratory moments in "Me and Earl" that put the film squarely within the "comedy" label. If you're a seasoned moviegoer, this is certainly not your first experience with the emotional complexity of a movie. Here are five more movies worth watching or revisiting to prepare you for the sometimes heartbreaking, sometimes hilarious tone of Me and Earl and the Dying Girl :
1. Benefits of being a wallflower
Perks and Earle's plots may be completely different, but in terms of tone, they're very similar. Both films are thoughtful, poignant films about the complexities of adolescence and feature strong, realistic friendships and parent-child relationships. Each film is alternately energetic and sad, a whirlwind of emotions that are sure to leave the audience feeling the same way .
2. Silver Linings Playbook
While Silver Linings Playbook isn't really a tearjerker, it does have some dark, serious moments — remember those scenes when Bradley Cooper was going crazy? Still, it's filled with comedic moments, just like "Me and Earl."
3. This is an interesting story
Like Me and Earl , the film's themes are quite dark. It's not cancer, it's suicide. But, like Earl and I , it never takes itself too seriously, and even in the worst of circumstances, it always remembers to look for the light.
4. Juno
Ultimately, Juno is a happy movie about finding family and falling in love. However, it's easy to forget that many of the film's greatest moments are also its darkest, such as Mark and Vanessa's marriage falling apart and their impending adoption becoming extremely fragile.
5. Lost in translation
Lost in Translation is deeply sad, deeply uplifting, and heartbreakingly real, and it fits the "comedy" genre better than any other movie. In this sense, Lost in Translation and Me and Earl are strikingly similar in every way.
Images: Fox Searchlight Pictures (2); Highlights (2); Summit Entertainment; The Weinstein Company
