MTV Review: The Fault In Our Stars

UK Release Date: Thursday 19th June

Certificate: 12A

Running Time: 126 min

Cast: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Willem Dafoe

Director: Josh Boone

Author: John Green

Plot: Hazel (Shailene Woodley) is a teenage cancer patient, more absorbed in books than a social life. Her condition, which was once gravely critical, has stabilised due to experimental drug treatment but she must wheel round a portable oxygen tank at all times. In order to keep her mother (Laura Dern) happy, she attends a youth support group for cancer patients, where she meets the oh-so-dreamy Gus (Ansel Elgort), who stares at her unashamedly until she agrees to talk to him – and from here, their incredible love story ensues. Grab a box of Kleenex. Kleenex Manzise*.

Best Scene: Gus' best friend Issac (Nat Wolff), is brutally dumped by his long-term girlfriend just weeks before he is set to lose his eye sight. Fully in-equipped to handle this level of distress , he decides to break every award that Gus has ever received, by smashing them to pieces against Gus' bedroom walls. This is just background noise to the conversation we witness between the young love birds, who are far more concerned with discussing the author of their favourite book than worrying about their mentally un-hinged friend. This is just one of many funny moments, which will be more than welcome as you race through that box of Kleenex*.

Best One Liner: “You don't get to choose if you get hurt in this world...but you do have some say in who hurts you. I like my choices.” Wailing.

Date Movie or Mate Movie: Ladies: make sure you don't see this on a first date. Your mascara will have run so far down your face that it will look like you're wearing black braces over your white t-shirt. Gentleman: don't be ashamed to cry! Let it out! Release! You need it, hey – you DESERVE it!

Scene Stealer: "Shailene, Shailene, Shailene, Shaailllene" (sung in your best Dolly Parton voice). Miss Woodley is the personification of the Hazel that die-hard fans of the book will have envisaged. She is intelligent, quick-witted and so easy to fall in love with. As if we needed more evidence to support the fact that Shailene is one of Hollywood's most promising Stars – there really is no Faulting her...(geddit?)

WTF Moment: When the lump in your throat is so big, you feel like a small squirrel is setting up for hibernation in your voice box. WTF.

Summary: The hard work of Josh Boone and John Green has paid off to create a perfectly seamless page-to-screen adaptation. Cancer is just a side-line to the main narrative and this in an achievement in itself. The acting is raw, the romance believable and the emotion, real. Move over Jack and Rose, we'll be spending our Kleenex Mansize* money on Gus and Hazel from hereon forth.

Star Rating: 4/5

*Disclaimer: This review is not sponsored by Kleenex, other brands are available.

By Venetia Falconer @MTVUK