You’re Not You

The degree to which You’re Not You improves as it progresses is nothing short of astonishing, as the movie, which initially comes off as a conventional and overly familiar drama, slowly-but-surely establishes itself as an effective tearjerker that’s rife with palpably emotional moments. The narrative follows well-to-do musician Kate (Hilary Swank) as she’s forced to make radical changes to her life after she’s diagnosed with ALS days after her 35th birthday, with the movie primarily exploring the bond that forms between Kate and her angry yet sympathetic caregiver (Emmy Rossum’s Bec). It’s clear right from the get-go that filmmaker George C. Wolfe’s handling of Rossum’s less-than-fresh character contributes heavily to You’re Not You‘s first-act problems, as Bec initially comes off as a generically rebellious young adult whose personal problems are simply too hackneyed to really generate much interest among viewers. There’s little doubt, however, that the movie improves considerably as it progresses, with the decision to shift the focus to the burgeoning relationship/friendship between Kate and Bec playing a key role in the film’s transformation into an unexpectedly engrossing (and periodically wrenching) piece of work. And although scripters Shana Feste and Jordan Roberts wreak havoc on the film’s momentum by including an entirely needless third-act fake break-up between Swank and Rossum’s respective characters, You’re Not You, anchored by Swank’s often breathtaking performance, ultimately lives up to its place as a seriously affecting (if unabashedly manipulative) disease-of-the-week-type weeper.

***1/2 out of ****