The Half Of It Review

 

Genre: Comedy, Drama, Romance, LGBTQIA+

Where I watched: Netflix (US)

Rating: PG-13 (does have brief to strong language as well as teen drinking)

Release Date: May 1st 2020

Overall Rating: 6.9/10 (IMDb), 97% (Rotten Tomatoes), 4/5 (Common Sense Media)

Staring: Leah Lewis, Daniel Diemer, Alexxis Lemir, Wolfgang Novogratz, Collin Chou, Becky Ann Baker, Enrique Murciano 

Directed By: Alice Wu

Summary:

This follows two (to three) characters. Friendless Ellie who makes extra money writing papers for her fellow students and football player Paul who writes a love note to a girl at their school. Both have a crush on the same girl but Ellie isn’t out of the closet as someone who likes girls.

So when Paul approaches Ellie for the first time, Ellie thinks that it is to write a paper. But in reality, Paul wants Ellie to help him write a letter for Aster (the girl they both like). At first Ellie refuses but changes her mind when she finds out that her home will lose power because her and father have failed to make the minimum payment.

Aster is in a relationship with a local wealthy boy. But because Ellie is communicating with Aster as Paul, that is who Aster thinks she is talking to. 

But because the first date goes so badly, Ellie wants to stop helping Paul get the girl. Paul defends Ellie against the bullies to where Ellie agrees to help Paul with some of the interests that Aster has. Though this, both Paul and Ellie become friends and open up. Like Pauls sausage creation and the fact that Ellies mom is no longer alive. 

Before leaving for Grinnell (where Ellie applied for college), Ellie apologizes to Aster for lying to her. Aster admits that she may have feelings for Ellie and that she is applying to art school. Paul sees Ellie off at the train station and reveals that his sausage is getting good reviews and that he will keep visiting Ellies father.

I always thought that there was one way to love. One right way.

Thoughts:

I adored this movie. I think that this was silly and made you laugh while also having those serious moments that you want in a romance movie.

I think that I connected to Ellie, maybe not on the ethnicity front because Ellie is Chinese American and I’m not, but on the whole “I’ve got to put everyone’s problems and needs above my own problems and needs”. Along with feeling like you have to hide a part of yourself because you’re scared of how others will react because its about you and not someone else. But when you finally accept it and you don’t care what others think is the best feeling ever.

I also felt that Aster didn’t want to break up with her boyfriend because everyone expects her to marry him and not care about what she wants as a person. Their relationship wasn’t toxic or abusive from what the movie showed, it just seemed like it was very one sided and Aster just stayed with him because it seemed like everyone wanted her to be with him. I did like the ending where she told Ellie that she will probably know in a few years who she is when they meet again.

The friendship between Ellie and Paul was the best relationship. Because even though you might expect them to get together by the end, you might be okay with the fact the end the movie as friends and on good terms. Even if the friendship didn’t start off on the best terms, just seeing how that friendship started and the ups and downs that it goes threw, I have to appreciate it. I didn’t care if they didn’t get the girl in the end, I enjoyed the roller coaster of what they went threw and how they went from “I don’t want to be friends with you” to “You might be my best friend because of this.” Because there were things that they told each other that others might not know. And that’s what I enjoyed.

The good thing about being different is that no one expects you to be like them.

Would I Recommended:

Yes. I think that this is everything those who love romantic comedies are looking for. But also, if you want something that is LGBTQIA+ friendly without it being at the forefront of the movie then definitely check this movie out. 

Love is being willing to ruin a good painting for a chance at a great one

Rating:

4.75 stars

[Loves] not finding your perfect half.