Ugh.

Brenna and Joe jump back into sick lit for Jesse Andrews' atrocious 2012 novel Me and Earl and the Dying Girl and its (better) 2015 Sundance award winning film adaptation by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon, starring Thomas Mann, RJ Cyler, Olivia Cooke and a stunt cast of adults.

We dedicate A LOT of time up front addressing our issues with the book, which is racist, misogynistic and features one of the most excruciating mediocre white boy protagonists since I Love You, Beth Cooper.  We find it hilarious that Andrews believes he's subverting (or avoiding) YA tropes; instead he's simply produced an unreadable book. Our advice: do not read this "book"!

The film - ironically adapted by Andrews - smooths out some of the books more egregious issues, but it comes at a cost. Earl is diminished to a non-character and Greg's selfish behaviour can't be redeemed. The actors and  Gomez-Rejon's vibrant, experimental direction save this film.

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