Departures

(spoiler free)

In the same vein as those teen terminal-illness blubber inducing flicks like Josh Boone’s ‘The Fault in Our Stars’, comes new comedy drama ‘Departures’, also known as ‘Then Came You’ and though it has some cliched aspects there is still plenty to enjoy within the drama.

Skye (Maisie Williams) has terminal cancer and in a support group she meets the ever-fearful Calvin (Asa Butterfield). It’s not long until he loosens up and is swept under her happy-go-lucky wing and they begin ticking off things from Skye’s To Die list. At the same time, Calvin is harboring a crush on air hostess Izzy (Nina Dobrev) but when she mistakes him for also having cancer things could become difficult once again for Calvin.

Granted there are the generic heartbeats of adolescent dramatics at play throughout this movie. The boy meets girl aspects aren’t subverted and the typical dilemmas are exactly that, so you could be forgiven for saying it’s an uninspiring and teeny bop feature. Despite this there are a lot of brilliant qualities amongst the narrative which make this a pleasing and enjoyable watch.

The charm and plucky attitude demonstrated by Skye, wonderfully played by Williams is a delight to behold. When she and the hypochondriac elements of Calvin come together there’s an elating energy to settle into, their time together through box checking, growing and learning are lovingly captured and you truly do feel for their bond. Titus Burgess from ‘Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt’ is on fine form in somehow presenting smut to air safety procedures and the plot develops in a comforting way, sure you can expect how a lot of it will land but buckle in and feel safe in the knowledge that the in-flight entertainment is a heart-felt celebration of friendship.

There is a moment with Calvin and some post this that did make me weep slightly but in terms of the central core of the movie itself and Skye’s illness, the film doesn’t bog down in striving to make you cry like lesser, more manipulative films. I rather liked the matter of fact stance it takes and her view on things present a refreshingly honest portrayal of what I’m sure a good many of people in her situation are like. The morbid flavour of comedy is well balanced with the sweeter side of her relationship with Calvin and also his softly softly approach with Izzy. Peter Hutchings has directed a film that knows exactly what it is, it’s not breaking the mould and frankly for what it is, it doesn’t really need to, he keeps a steady eye on ensuring the charm is at a constant.

‘Departures’ passes through the security check with only a minor beep and once you’re strapped in and taken off, you’ll find a cheery film about death with such youthful whizz from its stars that any possible turbulence feels like a distant memory come the end.

Written by Troy Balmayer

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Rating – 6.5/10

Question: What’s your favourite Maisie Williams performance?
(Leave your answers in the comments section below!)

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Thanks for reading this review and please let us know what you thought about the movie! Leave a comment below or drop us a tweet over at @HCMovieReviews.

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Thanks to Strike Media for screening access.
‘Departures’ will be available to watch on digital download from 4th March