Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse can’t get too close in “Five Feet Apart.” (CBS Films)

Haley Lu Richardson and Cole Sprouse can’t get too close in “Five Feet Apart.” (CBS Films)

Teens with cystic fibrosis find love — at a distance

‘Five Feet Apart’ starts strong, but goes off the rails with melodrama and dumb plotting.

It isn’t actually adapted from a Young Adult novel, but “Five Feet Apart” definitely has the mood of the more serious offerings from that literary shelf.

And like “The Fault in Our Stars,” this film deals with teenagers who are sick. So sick that 95 percent of the story takes place inside a hospital.

For most of the film, this limitation is no problem; what we see is funny and well-acted. Then — well, we’ll get to that.

In the opening scene we meet Stella (Haley Lu Richardson), who’s back in the hospital for her umpteenth visit. She lives with cystic fibrosis, the illness that produces an overabundance of mucus in the body.

Occupying the room next door is her childhood pal Poe (funny Moises Arias, from “The Kings of Summer”). As fellow “C-effers,” they know the ups and downs of the condition.

The new kid in the hospital block is Will (Cole Sprouse, who plays Jughead on “Riverdale”). He’s skeptical about his new treatment, and likes to talk about the inevitability of death.

Will is tall, handsome and brooding; Stella is short, pretty and upbeat. How long will it take for these two to put aside their differences and get together?

But the almost surreally sad reality, as the script by Mikki Daughtry and Tobias Iaconis goes to great lengths to explain, is that people with CF (at least these two people) dare not get into close proximity. If they touch, they might exchange the wrong kind of bacteria and become mortally sick.

This means Stella and Will can’t hold hands, let alone kiss. Director Justin Baldoni makes good use of the widescreen frame, keeping these two on separate sides of the screen, so we never forget the physical gulf between them.

It’s a poignant situation, and the film’s rough-edged, unsentimental attitude prevents the material from getting cloying or clinical — the kids have been sick so long they’ve developed shared jokes to keep pity at bay. The hospital wing becomes a world unto itself, where the young patients create their own special community.

Haley Lu Richardson, from “Edge of Seventeen” and “Support the Girls,” gives a rich performance — she creates an authentic, deglamorized human being. But not a saint: Stella has her own pushy personality, which includes her need to control everybody else’s treatment.

Having built this scenario, “Five Feet Apart” goes seriously wrong in its final act, ginning up melodrama and having the characters do dumb things to further the plot. It’s a shame — the very specific characters we’ve come to know deserve better.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Life

Children play and look up at a large whale figure hanging from the ceiling at the Imagine Children’s Museum (Olivia Vanni / The herald)
Fun for all ages: The best places for family adventures

From thrilling activities to relaxing outings, here’s where to make unforgettable family memories!

Everett P. Fog, 15, in front of an Everett mural along Colby Avenue on Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2025 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Hello, Everett! No escape when your name is same as the town

Everett P. Fog, 15, sees and hears his first name wherever he goes. His middle name is also epic.

Jared Meads takes a breath after dunking in an ice bath in his back yard while his son Fallen, 5, reads off the water temperature on Tuesday, Oct. 15, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Chill out: Dive into the cold plunge craze

Plungers say they get mental clarity and relief for ails in icy water in tubs, troughs and clubs.

Schack exhibit to highlight Camano Island watercolorists

“Four Decades of Friendship: John Ebner & John Ringen” will be on display Jan. 16 through Feb. 9.

XRT Trim Adds Rugged Features Designed For Light Off-Roading
Hyundai Introduces Smarter, More Capable Tucson Compact SUV For 2025

Innovative New Convenience And Safety Features Add Value

Sequoia photo provided by Toyota USA Newsroom
If Big Is Better, 2024 Toyota Sequoia Is Best

4WD Pro Hybrid With 3-Rows Elevates Full-Size

2025 Toyota Land Cruiser (Provided by Toyota).
2025 Toyota Land Cruiser revives its roots

After a 3-year hiatus, the go-anywhere SUV returns with a more adventurous vibe.

Enjoy the wilderness in the CX-50. Photo provided by Mazda USA Newsroom
2025 Mazda CX-50 Adds Hybrid Capability to Turbo Options

Line-Up Receives More Robust List Of Standard Equipment

Practical And Functional bZ4X basks in sunshine. Photo provided by Toyota Newsroom.
2024 bZ4X Puts Toyota Twist On All-Electric SUV’s

Modern Styling, Tech & All-Wheel Drive Highlight

Photo provided by Mazda USA Newsroom
2025 Mazda3 Turbo Premium Plus Hatch Delivers Value

Plus Functionality of AWD And G-Vectoring

2025 Mazda CX-90 Turbo SUV (Provided by Mazda)
2025 CX-90 Turbo models get Mazda’s most powerful engine

Mazda’s largest-ever SUV is equipped to handle the weight, with fuel efficiency kept in check.

Provided by Bridges Pets, Gifts, & Water Gardens.
Discover where to find the best pet supplies in town

Need the perfect store to spoil your furry friends? Herald readers have you covered.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.