"This film isn't just good, it's amazing. This isn't just a kid-with-cancer movie for film nerds, this is a sublime love letter to the Criterion collection, and the best riff on Harold and Maude since Rushmore.
"Thomas Mann is the 'me' of the story, Greg Gaines, and he's terrific, a mix of sardonicism and pathos that's entirely believable. Mann anchors the story, both narrating it and providing much of the dramatic thrust. Earl, played by Ronald Cyler II, has a far more archetypical role; he's more of a foil for Greg along the way. Olivia Cooke plays said dying girl Rachel Kushner, who is diagnosed with stage-four leukemia. The story sets off when Greg's mom forces him to spend time with his acquaintance after her diagnosis, and a reluctant friendship blossoms into something far deeper.
"Even in writing out this description, it sounds maudlin and silly, yet there's a magic trick played by Gomez-Rejon with this film. It's a combination of a truly witty script, performances that never veer towards the obnoxious, and a spirit of both light and dark that combine to form one of the more affecting and effective movies I've seen in a long while.
"There are a slew of exceptional supporting performances, from Saturday Night Live veteran Molly Shannon to Nick Offerman, Connie Britton and John Bernthal, that adds tremendous colour to the story.
"The music makes a few overt references to Hal Ashby (even the pet feline is named 'Cat Stevens'), but given that the film is littered with references to Martin Scorsese, Werner Herzog and more, this is all part of the show. This truly is a film geek's paradise, with clever and witty allusions or even complete recreations of moments from Burden of Dreams and the like.
"There's no better praise I can bestow upon Me and Earl and the Dying Girl than to say I think it would make Ashby proud. It's one of the funniest, cleverest, most heart-wrenching films I've seen in a long time, an absolutely delightful movie that earns every single one of its emotional beats." - Jason Gorber, Twitch
"This rousing adaptation of Jesse Andrews' novel is destined not only to connect with young audiences in a big way, but to endure as a touchstone for its generation." - Variety