REVIEW: Pack the Tissues for Cole Sprouse and Haley Lu Richardson’s Five Feet Apart
Imagine having to keep the one you love five feet away from you at all times. You can never touch the person, never share food, or share a kiss, could you do it? Director Justin Baldoni’s new film, Five Feet Apart brings that challenge to life.
The film follows Stella (Haley Lu Richardson), a young woman who has been living with cystic fibrosis, a genetic disease that affects her lungs. Stella has spent the majority of her life in and out of the hospital. Because of the disease she has to be cautious with who she spends her time,e one infection could have potentially catastrophic and life-ending impact. It is at the hospital where she meets fellow patient, Will (Cole Sprouse), who is also suffering from cystic fibrosis.
Will and Stella hit it off immediately and, what begins as a friendship turns into something much bigger than they anticipated. The couple is told they need to stay away from each other for their health, but neither can deny the attraction they have. They decide to take the risk and live their lives together, five feet apart at all times.
Haley and Cole are quite enjoyable on-screen together. Haley is vibrant and energetic, bringing to life a character whose life has seen so many dark moments, but still works to see the positive side of things. Cole is dreamy as Will and plays him with ease and a nice pinch of sarcasm. The two play well off each other and will likely have you crying by the film’s completion.
Moises Arias plays Poe, a patient also suffering from cystic fibrosis and a friend to Stella. Moises stole this film for me. His comedic timing and portrayal of the character was the shining light in a fairly sad film.
Just like The Notebook and The Last Song, the ups and down of the romantic relationship between the two young people is the focus. A nice addition to the love story is how the films works to bring awareness to cystic fibrosis and Burkholderia Cepacia (b cepacian), a bacterium that can be extremely detrimental to those who suffer from cystic fibrosis. The film dives deep into the disease and not only shows the effects of the disease on the body, but the impact the disease has on the person’s family and friends.
All in all, pack the tissues before heading out to see this film because it is a tearjerker. This is the perfect film to watch with a favorite dessert and drink in hand.
Grade: B