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Emelia Clarke's work on Game of Thrones is the only reason I watched this movie in the first place. She is occasionally transcendent in that role, where she must keep her eyebrows restrained, and I wanted to see what would happen if her amazingly mobile brows were set free ... free as her dragons.

There are a lot of solid things about this movie. The story (of a young woman who cares for a quadriplegic young man) is strong, the direction and cinematography good though not exceptional, the screen writing also good-not-exceptional, the supporting cast (especially Janet McTeer and Charles Dance)and leading man (Sam C.) quite good, and the emotional notes it hits, though all predictable and often a bit overwrought (cue swelling, heartwarming music...), ring true enough for an unabashed romance.

So, not really my type of movie. But I am happy to say that I was (almost) completely taken by Clarke's performance. Her character here is nothing like her GoT role, but is in many ways an equally fantasy-based role (but with clumsy shyness and striped leggings instead of fireproof skin and dragons) -- and Clarke manages to pull this character out of romantic fantasy into believability as effectively as she brings to life her role as Mother of Dragons. She has the combination of charisma, physical beauty, character-acting chops, and inner luminosity to pull a fairly nice, 7-of-10 heartwarmer up to a 9-of-10 charmer.

This is one of those movies that people hate for the wrong reasons -- because they are politically offended, because they have expectations that aren't met, because the movie is just too weird on too many levels. It's one of my favorite satires of all time, up there with Bulworth or the Truman Show, with some bits of brilliant writing, asking real questions about corporate war, evil, and compassion, and with good performances by Cusack, Cusack, Kingsley, Tomei, Duff, & many supporting cast. If you like unusual, weird or trippy, might just give it a try. I have to write more, so I'll also praise the soundtrack, and say that the movie both de-glamorizes violence, and makes some of the killings funny. 'We''re going to be a family again.' Joan Cusack screaming.