Fault in Our Stars, The MPAA Rating: PG-13 Entertainment: +3 Content: +2

ACTORS: Shailene Woodley (Divergent), Ansel Elgort (Divergent), Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe. DIRECTOR: Josh Boone. WRITERS:  John Green, author of “The Fault in Our Stars”; Scott Neustadter, Michael H. Weber screenplay.

FILM SYNOPSIS:  Teenagers Hazel (Woodley) and Gus (Elgort), both cancer patients, meet in a cancer support group. Hazel has been dealing with bouts of the disease for several years, but Gus, who lost a leg to cancer and is in remission, attends the group to support his best friend Isaac (Wolff) as he faces total blindness.  Gus falls hard for Hazel, whose childhood has prevented her from cultivating friendships. He makes Hazel the focus of his life, wanting to make her laugh, experience love, and fulfill her dream of meeting her favorite author, Van Houten (Dafoe). That won’t be an easy task since the reclusive author has moved to Amsterdam, but it happens.

PREVIEW REVIEW:  Based on the popular novel by John Green, The Fault in Our Stars touches on so many issues: first love, facing fear, friendship, faith (all f-words!), importance of laughter and joy, sadness and  sharing feelings, to name a few.  Gus and Hazel are funny, charming and very believable characters. Yes, viewers will probably shed a few tears, but they will also leave the theater chattering and exchanging enthusiastic remarks about the movie.

Dealing with life-threatening illness together, Hazel, Gus and Isaac can express their anger and frustration freely without feeling guilty. When Isaac’s girlfriend dumps him, the three attack her car with a dozen eggs.  That is about as violent as they get. In Amsterdam the meeting with the author they traveled so far to see becomes the turning point in Gus and Hazel’s relationship. Sex is implied as they are shown in a hotel room, but there is no nudity. A few crude expressions and profanities, one f-word from Hazel in a moment of extreme anger justify the PG13 rating. Add to that a drunken character portrayed in a very negative way. The one disappointment is absence of any concrete religious faith. Gus and Hazel discuss oblivion and whether there is an afterlife. She looks to Van Houten for answers to such questions. The good news is that pedestal comes crashing down.

Preview Reviewer: Mary Draughon
Distributor: 20th Century Fox