Me Before You

Full disclosure: I have read this novel twice, including once just last week. It is one of my favorite books of all time.
That being said, I couldn't wait to see the film and though I have many issues with it, the film remains excellent.
The plot is simple enough, Louisa Clark (Emilia Clarke) is hired by Camilla Traynor (Janet McTeer) to be a companion/caregiver to her quadriplegic son, Will (Sam Claflin). Their relationship starts off horribly as Will doesn't want someone chatty and Louisa is a perpetually happy and talkative. Not that it matters, she has a boyfriend, Patrick (Matthew Lewis). Yep, that's right, Neville from the Harry Potter films, all grown up.
The twist is, Louisa is also around to make sure that Will doesn't commit suicide. Will was a businessman and daredevil before he was hit by a motorcycle, and now must live the rest of his life in a wheelchair and it depresses him. So he wants to die, as seen by the scars on his wrists. Louisa is devastated to learn this and becomes determined to keep him alive. She tries taking him on activities, which have mixed results. The two grow closer, much to the chagrin of Patrick and eventually their relationship comes to an end. Louisa and Will grow close and though they both love each other, Will still can't bring himself to live so he goes to Switzerland where he can have an assisted suicide. Louisa is forced to move on and live without him.
Though the performances are brilliant, even the supporting characters shine, including Steve Peacocke as Will's loyal in-home nurse, Nathan and Jenna Coleman as Louisa's great and inventive sister, Katrina, Emilia Clarke was miscast. Louisa is supposed to be slightly overweight. It is a shame as Clarke is great with some of the most expressive eyebrows ever. Fortunately, Claflin is perfect, albeit a little young. But he will break your heart, and he only has his face to convey his meaning, and he succeeds.
Now, to my other problems. In the film, Louisa makes her case better for Will to continue to live. She cries at him, that though this might be what he wants, it isn't what she wants and that should also be taken into consideration. Also, in the book, there was an implied sexual assault with Louisa being the victim, which is why she hasn't left her small town, something Will just can't understand. You also know why Louisa lost her first job, her boss had to leave town to care for his elderly parents, nothing against Louisa's great work ethic. There is also some hostility between Katrina, a young single mother who returns to school and Louisa who has a crazy sense of fashion but must stay at her job with the Traynors as her family needs the money. And they do, her mother (Samantha Spiro) needs to care for Louisa's elderly grandfather who recently suffered a stroke and her father, Bernard (Brendan Coyle) is on the edge of losing his job and does, about half way through the novel. And the Traynors have a bunch of money. Another difference between the book and film, in the book Will has a sister, who doesn't exist in the film and also in the book, Will's father, Steven (Charles Dance) is having an affair and it wasn't the first time, this is barely implied in the film. Plus, it would have been helpful if the film explained Will's previous suicide attempt, where he rammed his wheelchair into a rusty nail so many times, it cut the bone. Yeah, that would have been helpful.
And it is a shame, as some of the scenes are verbatim from the book, which makes sense as Jojo Moyes wrote both. The film is also laced with controversy, and book shows both sides better as Louisa does her research, joining online support groups and even gets Will this machine that will type what he says, a great moment that the film should have had. Will would have never been a burden to her, despite his belief that that would be the case. He wants Louisa to have a crazy life, to live up to her potential, to travel, live life to its fullest. He wants her to someone who can give her all the things that he can't. Yet, Louisa is also the only thing that makes him happy. She is the sole reason for his smile.
Okay, that all being said, the film is still superb, evoking some funny moments, mainly from the competition Patrick and Will have over Louisa and how Patrick is jealous of someone who cannot walk nor will he ever walk again. And Louisa is a live wire with her charming personality and quirky sense of style. Her shoes alone are worth watching for alone. Both Clarke and Claflin make the characters come to life in a way that you will never forget. Grade: A-