Me and Earl and the Dying Girl - B

Rated PG-13, 104 minutes

The satisfying "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl" is one of those unconventional friendship movies that wears its quirkiness on its sleeve as a badge of honor. It's a minor annoyance given that underneath all the hipster clothes and off-the-wall actions, that it's a touching, well-acted tale of true friendship. The movie tells the story of Greg Gaines (Dallasite Thomas Mann of "Beautiful Creatures"), an awkward high school senior whose mom forces him to spend time with Rachel - a girl in his class ("The Quiet Ones'" Olivia Cooke) with whom he hasn't spoken to since kindergarten - who was just diagnosed with cancer, and along with Greg's friend Earl (newcomer Ronald Clyler II) the three form an unique, unforgettable bond. The charming "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," directed by Alfonso Gomez-Rejon ("The Town that Dreaded Sundown")and written by Jesse Andrews and based on his young adult novel of the same name, it's hardly anything new with all its quirky themes, but it's an emotionally insightful look at relationships that you will have trouble disliking. A fan favorite at this year's Sundance Film Festival (it won the audience award), it's easy to see how a film about death and dying could also be so likable and at times, amusing, given how it reminds you of other films or filmmakers you may have enjoyed: think a spunkier cross between "The Fault in Our Stars" and "The Perks of Being a Wildflower" mixed with some Wes Anderson (in particular some of the stop motion scenes incorporated into the movie). "Me and Earl" works best when Gomez-Rejon reigns in the quirks and focuses on the story and character; however, there are some admittedly clever pieces to it , including the home movies Greg and Earl make, and especially their movie posters, which are genuinely funny. The three young stars and their breakout turns are all solid, with Clyler (in his debut film) getting in some of the better lines, while lovely British actress Cooke reminds of Emma Watson and Mann a less goofy Michael Cera. The final act is predictably touching and you should bring tissues, after all this is a movie with a dying girl, and the familiar, entertaining "Me and Earl and the Dying Girl," though not exactly a chick flick per se, will likely appeal more to the younger female set.