Then Came You Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		2.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		3.0
Overall		3.5

Then Came You Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Brian Orndorf April 3, 2019

Teen melodramas are big business these days, with Netflix finding ratings gold with tales of sad but snappy kids in problematic relationships, trying make sense of the world they’re inheriting. “Then Came You” joins the pack, presenting two characters handed the challenge of cancer survival to help complicate their still-forming lives, trying to capture the essence of youth while dealing with the crushing realities of mortality. Writer Fergal Rock isn’t breaking fresh ground with “Then Came You,” but he’s not trying to avoid formula either, presenting a clichéd take on friendship, longing, and loss, trusting the warmth and quirk of the endeavor will be enough to capture interest in the characters. He needs more than familiarity to get by, as the movie never rises above mediocrity, unwilling to put in the effort to make something special out of working parts already on view in dozens of other films.

Wrestling with extreme anxiety issues, Calvin (Asa Butterfield) puts faith in his hypochondria, showing morbid attention to signs of cancer. To help calm his mind, Calvin attends a support group for cancer survivors, meeting Skye (Maisie Williams) during a gathering, finding it hard to ignore the young woman’s extreme personality and pushy ways. Befriending Skye, Calvin is soon subjected to her pursuit of whimsy while she faces finality, agreeing to help her with a “To Die List,” sampling adventures and experiences to satisfy curiosities. While the pair embraces life during this period, Skye pushes Calvin, an airport baggage handler, to pursue his crush on flight attendant Izzy (Nina Dobrev), suggesting to the older woman that her pal is a survivor as well, putting the young man in difficult position of deception while getting close to his fantasy. For Skye, unfinished business with boys and estranged high school friends proves too emotional for comfort, growing aware of the psychological toll her illness is having on others.

Rock comes up with a fairly depressing tale in “Then Came You,” tasked with finding way to make the saga of Skye and Calvin palatable, even jubilant at times. It’s not an easy test of screenwriting skill, and Rock only gets halfway there, often turning to unbearable quirk to sell Skye as this healing free-spirit of mischief, targeting Calvin and his shyness, responding to his inability to reject her often deafening ways. Skye is borderline obnoxious, stampeding everywhere she goes, but Rock submits the behavior as a thin veil masking abyssal pain, with the teenager handling the unpredictability of her cancer, also carrying the weight of grief from her parents, who can’t bear the sadness of the situation. She turns into a human air horn to cope, focusing her attention on Calvin’s love life, urging her pal to make a move on Izzy despite their differences in age and experience.

“Then Came You” is not a tale of romance. Friendship is the general idea, with director Peter Hutchings playing up the sugar rush of companionship to best entice viewers, staging montages of Skye and Calvin undertaking their mastery of the “To Die List,” which finds them embarking on all types of misadventures and experiences, some involving two local cops (Briana Venskus and Ken Jeong) who immediately melt at the thought of helping two dying kids live life to the fullest. Such cutesiness is a bit much, but “Then Came You” doesn’t remain in the bubble of silliness for very long, as Rock strives to get in as much domestic complication as he can, with Calvin in stasis due to past traumatic incidents (rendering his mother mute), keeping him one bad push away from a nervous breakdown. Skye is also touched by fear, but this emotional authenticity is scarce in the movie, which soon takes on hackneyed subplots including Skye’s reunion with a school friend, lusting after her boyfriend, while Izzy’s sole purpose in the plot is to bemoan her ex-lover’s last of honesty, setting up Calvin big third-act fall.

Then Came You Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

The AVC encoded image (2.39:1 aspect ratio) presentation surveys the modest visual appeal of "Then Came You." Colors are stable, showcasing brighter primaries with town decoration and costuming, while more striking hues are found with Skye's wigs and outfits. Greenery delivers a sense of location. Detail is healthy throughout, offering a dimensional look at airport activity. Bedroom design and mementos are easily surveyed, and facial surfaces are crisp, showcasing age and the wear and tear of illness. Delineation is acceptable, but a few scenes are struck by solidification, losing textures on clothing and hair.

Then Came You Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

The 5.1 DTS-HD MA sound mix isn't built to be anything more than a mild understanding of elements. Dialogue exchanges are sharp and true, preserving emotionality and quirk, also dealing well with accents and comedic timing. Scoring is gentle, setting a soft acoustic guitar mood, supporting with appropriate volume. Soundtrack selections are more animated, giving the mix some low-end thump. Surrounds aren't overly active, but atmospherics are passable, capturing airport bustle and some rural encounters.

Then Came You Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• "Learning to Live" (20:24, HD) is the official making-of for "Then Came You," presenting interviews with cast and crew (conducted on-set) to help illuminate the picture's creative journey. Script origins are examined, with writer Fergal Rock sharing his real-world inspirations for the tale, while casting proved to be a critical event for the production, finding most attention here placed on Maisie Williams. The actress is quick to credit a team effort for her performance, collaborating with hair/makeup and costuming departments to find Skye. Peter Hutchings's directorial approach is detailed, along with his choice in locations, bringing the actors into a working airport. Lots of film clips are used to pad the featurette, but valuable BTS footage is offered, along with parting hopes for a potential audience.

• And a Theatrical Trailer (2:25, HD) is included.

Then Came You Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

There's an interest in the arts to keep "Then Came You" grounded, and the mutual healing message of the story is welcome. However, originality doesn't win in the end, with Rock going through the motions to arrive at an expected ending, and leads Williams and Butterfield (who plays nothing but shattered young men) share little chemistry, leaving the central relationship uneven and, at times, unbelievable. "Then Came You" is too programmed to extract the full heartache it desires, with little interpersonal magic to pair with all the melancholy.