“Less tragic Augustus Waters”? Mason Thames reacts to comparisons between his character in If It Wasn’t You and the protagonist of The Fault in Our Stars (Interview) – Cinema news

If It Wasn’t You, the new film based on the work of author Colleen Hoover, has a plot full of dramatic layers. But, as in every story worthy of a soap opera, the teen romance “water with sugar” serves as a counterpoint to so much tension.

The plot follows the already troubled relationship between Morgan Grant (Allison Williams) and her teenage daughter Clara (Mckenna Grace) who is severely impacted after a tragic accident causes the death of Clara’s father and Morgan’s sister. Crossed by grief, the protagonist discovers that the two were having an affair and, trying to protect Clara, hides this secret from the girl.

While dealing with this heavy context, Clara ends up falling in love with Miller, a surprisingly sensitive “bad boy” played by actor Mason Thames, best known for starring in How to Train Your Dragon. It’s the teenage couple’s newfound passion that balances the drama with lightness and naivety.

Mason Thames takes over as new favorite romantic hero

In an exclusive interview with I LoveCinemaMason stated that bringing the atmosphere of teenage love is very important for the film and for himself:

“I’ve always wanted to be in a romantic film and what I love so much about Miller is that he’s not just the cool, mysterious guy at school. He’s a very empathetic person who’s been through a lot since he was young. So I feel like he’s very mature and has tried his best to be there for Clara and everyone around him,” describes the 18-year-old actor.

This duality between unpretentious self-confidence and the melancholy of Miller’s traumas was precisely what led readers to draw comparisons with another male protagonist in youth literature: Augustus Waters, from The Fault in Our Stars.

Paramount Pictures / Fox Film

Touted as a “less tragic Gus”, edits on TikTok highlight the similarities between the two romantic heroes. The detail that draws the most attention is that, while the character played by Ansel Elgort uses an unlit cigarette as his objectified metaphor, Mason Thames’ character has the habit of always having a lollipop between his teeth:

“I definitely understand their (the fans’) idea. I identify with Miller in many ways, you know? He’s an incurable romantic, he wants to be a filmmaker, he’s a dreamer. And that’s, for me, the best part of playing this character”, says Thames.

The comparison becomes even more curious when we note that Josh Boone, the director of Regretting Youwas also responsible for adapting Jonh Green’s best-seller in 2014.

If It Wasn’t For You is showing in Brazilian cinemas, while The Fault in Our Stars is available for streaming on Disney+.