There's a sincerity here that undoes many of its excesses, thanks largely to the grounded chemistry of its leads.

There's a million books like this and a million movies like this, where people are beautiful -- but they're sick!

The plot is believable - right up to the heart-in-the-mouth turns near the end - and the dialogue sounds real. That is a good start in any movie, but in this case it powers on from there because of the A-grade performances of the two young leads.

There’s some quality production design, and the occasional amiable scene. But as a whole, the movie is dull and saccharine, despite the efforts of its magnetic lead actors.