Up first, we compare two super sad dramas about people caring for other people with life-threatening disabilities. Break out the tissues, because we’re looking at Me Before You and The Fundamentals of Caring.
Watch This: The Fundamentals of Caring
This movie, available on Netflix, is about a failed writer, Ben (Paul Rudd), that enrolls in a class to become an at-home caregiver. He graduates and finds his first job in the home of Trevor, a disabled teenager. The film is based on the 2012 novel of the same name by Jonathan Evison. What starts as a brooding drama, pretty quickly evolves into a comedy complete with a life-altering road trip and quirky side characters named Dot and Peaches.
The movie has received mixed reviews, but I thought it was funny and honest, even if there were a few well-worn cliches in the script such as Ben equating his caring for Trevor with the loss of his own son. It’s a buddy movie, at it’s core, and I loved it. Also, I really want to do a road trip now where we only stop to see obscure “Biggest” attractions across the U.S.
Watch the full trailer here:
Not That: Me Before You
Them’s fighting’ words, I know.
Look, I watched this movie because, hello, Daenerys and Finnick = EVERYTHING, but I should start this by saying I didn’t like the book. I’m pretty sure I had to shut down my Goodreads account for a while after giving it 1 star, because the trolls were shooting me some serious literary shade afterwards.
The movie was even worse, because the book, at least, detailed so much of Louisa’s life … since it was really her story anyway. The movie didn’t have time to visit every kooky corner of Louisa’s house nor did it have time to detail much of Will’s life before the accident. The main characters felt like shells of their former book selves and the side characters barely existed on screen.
There are a lot of mixed sentiments on this story’s final message. You can read all about that and Hollywood’s general failing at representing people with disabilities here. I think I could sit down and argue both sides of the debate if forced, but, honestly, I hated Will’s decision. Loathed it. I hated it in the book and I hated it again in the movie. I probably hated it more in the movie, because it was Finnick Odair saying those God awful things. That’s my two cents.
Watch the full trailer here:
Anyone else love Fundamentals of Caring? Should we all road trip to see the World’s Biggest Ditch? Give me a shout in the comments!
