Zach Sobiech was always a special kid. Everyone who knew him knew this. And after he uploaded his soon-to-be-viral song “Clouds” to YouTube in December of 2012, millions more around the country, and even the world, would come to learn this too.
Zach was diagnosed with osteosarcoma in 2009. After several surgeries and 20 rounds of chemotherapy, his doctors informed him and his family in 2012 that they could do no more for him; he was terminal. Zach was only 17.
Zach approached his new reality with more strength and resilience than could ever be reasonably expected of anybody, regardless of age. He chose to live his last remaining months with positivity and a reinvigorated zest for life. This is the story Clouds has the responsibility of telling.
The movie begins four years after Zach’s (Fin Argus) initial diagnosis, but before the cancer has turned terminal. We’re introduced to him as a bright and bubbly high school senior, someone everyone wants to be friends with. And it’s by no means due to sympathy. Zach is genuinely likable and kind and selfless. He’s doing what he can to live as “normal” a life as his circumstances allow.
But his life is turned upside down once again after he receives the terminal diagnosis. From his best friend Sammy (Sabrina Carpenter) to his parents Laura (Neve Campbell) and Rob (Tom Everett Scott) to his siblings, and his love interest Amy (Madison Iseman), everything changes for those in Zach’s life. How do you respond when someone you love only has months left to live?
Zach and Sammy begin to throw themselves into their music. Their band, A Firm Handshake, even scores a record deal, eventually leading to the “Clouds” phenomenon that led to Zach’s widespread fame. Zach and Amy begin dating, even with the knowledge that their relationship is guaranteed to have a much earlier end date than either would like. But Zach wants to truly live with his remaining time. And part of the life of a teenager is dating. He’s not going to let cancer get in the way of that.
The Sobiech family does their best to keep their increasingly fragile infrastructure intact. Unfortunately, this is one of Clouds‘ bigger stumbles. It’s easy to imagine how a situation like this would strain even the best of marriages, and Laura and Tom are no exception. But the actual time spent on this part of the story is so little, that these scenes – as real as they feel – come across as feeling forced into the movie. And that’s too bad, because Campbell and Scott knock those precious few moments out of the park.
And that also speaks to the acting as a whole. Everyone here is great. Clouds obviously covers some seriously heavy material. More emotional scenes can come off as very cheesy if the acting isn’t up to snuff. But that’s not the case here. Several of Zach’s scenes with his siblings – particularly those with his younger sister – are absolutely heartbreaking. Argus and Carpenter have an easy chemistry that makes you truly believe they’ve been lifelong friends.
But two actors deserve special shoutouts. Madison Iseman as Amy might have the most difficult role of any of the supporting characters. As hard as it might be, you can at least begin to imagine how a parent or sibling or best friend might react in this situation. But a significant other? And a new one at that? And someone who still just a kid herself? That has to be an extremely difficult headspace to put yourself in as an actor. But Iseman takes the challenge head on and crushes it. In a movie full of difficult roles and impressive performances, Iseman stands out on her own.
Second up is Lil Rel Howery. A movie like Clouds needs a little bit of comic relief. And there’s some sprinkled in elsewhere throughout the movie. But Howery easily gets the biggest laughs as Zach’s teacher, Mr. Weaver. He jokes around with his students and always has a situation-relevant quote at the ready. Clouds maybe could have benefitted from a couple more scenes with Howery, but even still, his role does a great job at balancing out the heaviness of the larger story.
With all the good it has going for it, perhaps Clouds’ greatest strength is the honesty in its storytelling. And that makes sense, given director Justin Baldoni’s personal connection to Zach. Baldoni met Zach in 2013, featuring him in the first episode of his “My Last Days” series. The video is at 15 million views and counting on YouTube and is a must-watch. Sometimes you might worry about a director having such a close connection to movie. Maybe they will become blind to their vision, to the detriment of the movie. But with Clouds, Baldoni handles it with the care and tenderness the story deserves. He was the only person who could have directed Clouds and he got it right.
Bottom Line
While Clouds doesn’t always succeed on a technical movie level, it does exactly what it sets out to do from a storytelling standpoint. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll feel all sorts of feelings. Zach Sobiech’s story and widespread impact is just as heartbreaking and inspirational today as it was seven years ago.
Score: 79/100
You can donate to and learn more about the Zach Sobiech Osteosarcoma Fund here.
