A glossy adaptation of the bestselling novel from Jojo Moyes, this film is a precision-tooled tear-extraction device. And if that makes it sound ruthlessly cynical, well yes, it is rather. But this tale of the bond between kooky small-town cupcake Lou (Emilia Clarke) and her wealthy quadriplegic employer, Will (Sam Claflin), has an undeniable, if somewhat chintzy charm. Much of it comes from the spark between Clarke, who throws herself into a big-hearted performance as goofy wardrobe disaster Lou, and the laconic Claflin. Both manage to rise above characters that are gender colour-coded by footwear choices for her and sporting activities, or lack thereof, for him.
