The parents in the movie are not horrifically overbearing, reminding us of the horror of the illness, instead they watch from a distance, cautious yet curious, happy that their daughter is seeking her own path. The teenagers know their fate, and are intelligent enough to know it and the initial conversations about their conditions are handled well and to the point. However, the movie handles the topic well, I believe. Cancer is a topic that is hard to portray right, and can fall into overly-sentimental and a tasteless use of the plot device. The movie, as mentioned before, does not intentionally set out to exploit its sensitive subject.

Finally, Willem Dafoe brings an edge to the movie as only he can. Dern and Trammell deliver engaging performances as the parents, who thankfully aren’t stuffy and over-protective. His character has a believable quality, and handles all that is required with the right emotional quality. Ansel Elgort is great as the charming, spontaneous Gus, who wants to live life for the day and embrace what he has, and connects on a deep level with Hazel. She is the star of the movie, and throughout manages to elevate her performance – and it’s her best performance to date. Her performance is a terrific balance of wit, sensitivity, pain and hope blended together to create an endearing character that throughout you will to succeed. Centering on the story of Hazel, the part is played with wonderful grace and authenticity by Shailene Woodley.

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