Rachel's dying isn't really about Rachel at all. It's about Greg. In fact, everything that happens in the film is about Greg.

I found myself relishing the skill of the cast and laughing at the sharply turned dialogue while wincing at the self-consciousness of the storytelling and the self-congratulatory pop-culture references.

Somewhere along the way Earl eases up on the suburban-Wes Anderson whimsy and starts to find its heart, infusing the story's self-conscious cleverness and trick-shot set pieces with something sweeter, sadder, and even a little bit profound.

The material comes packed with sorrowful beats sure to make a slate of stone at least consider letting one tear loose. So in summation: pack your tissue boxes, you're in for a doozy.