By Mackenzie Pittman

The movie “Five Feet Apart,” starring Haley Lu Richardson and Coles Sprouse, follows the life of Stella Grant (Richardson), a perfectly normal 17-year-old teenager besides the fact she has Cystic Fibrosis, a life-alternating condition. Her condition forces her to spend the majority of her time in a hospital following routines, setting boundaries, and practicing self-control. Her typical routine changes, however, when she meets Will Newman (Cole), a rebellious patient who also has Cystic Fibrosis. Together they form an instant connection, but due to certain restrictions they must remain five feet apart. As their relationship grows, they explore the possibility of throwing rules and regulations to the wind and living life to the fullest.

So far the 2 hour and 15 minute movie has received mixed reviews. IMDb rated it a lofty 7.2/10, whereas Rotten Tomatoes gave it a 53%. While the goal of the movie was to give viewers “insight into Cystic Fibrosis,” as one reviewer put it, another critic more accurately describes the situation of the movie, “Elevated considerably by Haley Lu Richardson’s performance but bogged down by clichés, Five Feet Apart doesn’t tug at the heartstrings quite as deftly as it should.”

All major movie theaters are currently showing the film. So go see for yourself if the CBS-produced movie effectively pulls at your heartstrings.