Five Feet Apart (Review)

Five Feet Apart is an Emotional Rollar Coaster in the Best Possible Way.

Shamelessly sentimental and riddled with cliches, Five Feet Apart somehow manages to be better than it has any right to be. In an age of melodrama and lackluster romance films, the movie manages to breathe new life into the “star-crossed lovers” trope thanks to a a unique twist. Sure, there were plenty of times where I caught myself rolling my eyes, but I also found myself subtly drying them just as often. To say that Five Feet Apart is a tearjerker would be quite an understatement.

So often movies come up with convenient excuses to keep young lovers apart, but I can’t remember the last time it was literally life or death. Five Feet Apart is the story of two teens who fall madly in love with each other but can never touch due to the fact that they both suffer from Cystic Fibrosis. Because of this, if the two come too close they could contaminate each other with bacteria that would prove fatal. That doesn’t stop the teens from pushing the boundaries as they pursue young love. The thing is that there is no deus ex machina when it comes to this disease. It’s very real and very deadly, and Five Feet Apart never tries to work around that fact, which makes this a story that is truly heartbreaking in the best possible way.

At the center of Five Feet Apart is Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse. The two turn in impressive performances that prove to be a solid foundation for the film, especially because of the chemistry between them. Richardson plays Stella a model patient who is militant when it comes to her medical regiment. With Cystic Fibrosis slowly stealing her life from her, this is the only way for her to feel in control at all. Of course, that means that Sprouse’s Will is the exact opposite of her. He breaks the rules in order to gain a sense of control over a life that has seen him in and out of a hospital. Five Feet Apart definitely plays up the whole “opposites attract” theme, but thanks to the two leads it’s a more than forgivable cliche, especially given the journey they undertake over the course of the film. What’s even more impressive though is that these two actors manage to take these potentially one-dimensional characters and turn them into one of the better on-screen couples I’ve seen in a long time.

My inner critic spent much of Five Feet Apart screaming in horror as the sappy romance that was unfolding on screen, but I ate up every minute of it. Don’t get me wrong, the film isn’t bad. In fact, director Justin Baldoni does a pretty damn good job telling this tale. Even though the characters can’t possibly touch without risking everything, their story is still an incredibly intimate one. As daunting as the space between Will and Stella is, Baldoni uses it as a tool to tell their story. It becomes clear that what the two share is far from lust or just the result of teenage hormones. Their love is genuine because it’s far from easy. In fact, it’s impossible. There are potentially so many easier options for them out there, and yet they can’t help orbiting each other. Of course, part of their attraction might just be the whole “forbidden fruit” aspect of their relationship, but it genuinely feels like it’s much more than just that. I supposed Baldoni’s experience from Jane the Virgin is partially to thank for his keen eye when it comes to on-screen romances. However, if he can manage to make more feature films like this, I wholeheartedly support him transitioning to behind the camera.

Even now, I’m still of two minds when it comes to Five Feet Apart. The premise itself is quite unique, especially for a romance. However, it’s also the source of constant romantic platitudes. The two characters are stereotypical opposites and yet still manage to fall in love with each other. Despite all this though, I didn’t care. I knew that Five Feet Apart wasn’t high art, but that didn’t stop me from becoming fully investing in the characters and their lives. Because of that, the emotional punches hit much harder than they deserved to. I laughed. I cringed. I even cried. In my book, that makes Five Feet Apart a well-made film no matter how you cut it.  

Let me forewarn audiences that this is not your typical romantic comedy. I don’t want to spoil anything, but if you go in thinking that a doctor is going to come out of nowhere with a cure to an incurable disease, you’re going to be sorely disappointed. If you want to see a movie with a genuine love story and characters you can’t help but root for, then this is definitely a film for you. I was expecting the worst when I sat down to watch this movie and walked away completely shocked by it. If you’re a fan of heartfelt romances, then you won’t want to miss Five Feet Apart.