John Green, who is not producing nor making decisions about the film in any way, says this, “I like the tag line. I found it dark and angry in the same way that Hazel is (at least at times) dark and angry in her humor. I mostly wanted something that said, ‘This is hopefully not going to be a gauzy, sentimental love story that romanticizes illness and further spreads the lie that the only reason sick people exist is so that healthy people can learn lessons.’ But that’s not a very good tag line. I like the tag line because it says, literally, the sick can also have love stories. Love and joy and romance are not just things reserved for the well.”
Okay… so there’s his statement. And I can’t help but agree with him. But is he really going to criticize a producer who is undoubtedly going to gross millions of dollars in the box office with a film based off of his story? I think probably not. The same goes for the actors, such as Ansel Elgort, who will play the role of Augustus ‘Gus’ Waters in the film. When the tagline was released on the poster for The Fault in Our Stars and controversy ensued, Elgort took to Twitter stating, “I have no problem with the tagline. It’s cheeky,” reflecting his desire to defend his upcoming film.
I, who has never been a cancer patient nor would consider myself a fanatic of Green’s book…yet (maybe that’s because I’m only a little over halfway through), do not understand the tagline entirely and for one reason or another found it a little shocking. I do not stand alone in this feeling of being taken aback. Shalene Woodley, who will play Hazel Grace Lancaster in the film, said that she had a “strong reaction”to it and would not have chosen it herself.
However, upon further consideration, Woodley says that she understands both sides of the argument and
has noted that it seems that “half the people love it and half the people don’t like it.” I think I’m with her. It just doesn’t feel right to me. But hey! If it markets the story to a broad audience of viewers, some of whom have read the book and some of whom undoubtedly will after seeing the film, then what’s the harm?
I would love to hear your thoughts on this “sick” love story and its tagline. Please comment below.