《命运的错》

    Hazel Grace Lancaster (Shailene Woodley) is dying. That’s the truth. Sorry. Augustus “Gus” Waters (Ansel Elgort) doesn’t care. That’s also the truth. Sorry.

    Based on the novel of the same name by John Green, the film begins with an apologetic* voice-over* from Hazel, who promises to tell us only the truth.

    Hazel’s illness has kept her away from most social situations, and she’s far more happy at home watching “America’s Next Top Model” and hanging out* with her parents (Laura Dern and Sam Trammell) than putting herself among her own age group.

    Being a teen is hard enough — being a terminally ill*, clever teen sounds nearly impossible.

    Seeing her parents unhappy, Hazel agrees to go to a local support group for kids with cancer*, because it appears to please them.

    Hazel is a wonderful person, and Woodley is winning as ever in the film. Elgort, however, doesn’t act quite as well.

    The pair meet at the support group and slowly form a close friendship that turns into love. Gus is in remission*, but he’s there to support his best friend Isaac (Nat Wolff), who is about to lose a second eye to his own cancer.

    The film’s first half is lovely and sweet and quite funny. While Hazel’s illness is never far from mind, the two hesitate* about their relationship. Both Hazel and Gus can be silly, texting and talking and sharing bits of pop culture, wild about each other and their future, just like any other teen couple. The second half of the film is very sad.

    Early on in the film, Hazel shares her favorite* book with Gus — “An Imperial Affliction*,” written by the mysterious* Peter Van Houten (Willem Dafoe), who has never written another thing. Desperate* to fully win Hazel’s love, Gus plans a trip to Amsterdam to meet Van Houten, who has invited them to visit. But what they find there is more surprising than anything they could have thought of.

    The film has enough charm and humor to attract a wide audience.

    (SD-Agencies)