Movie Review: The Half of It (2020)
Overview
Director & Screenwriter: Alice Wu
Cast: Leah Lewis (Ellie Chu), Daniel Diemer (Paul Munsky), Alexxis Lemire (Aster Flores), Collin Chou (Edwin Chu)
Genre: LGBTQ+ Coming-of-Age / Romantic Comedy-Drama / Indie
Accolades: Founders Award for Best Narrative Feature at the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival
Synopsis
In the sleepy, conservative Pacific Northwest town of Squahamish, straight-A student Ellie Chu earns extra money ghostwriting academic essays for her classmates. When well-meaning but articulate-challenged football player Paul Munsky hires Ellie to write a love letter to the local minister's daughter, Aster Flores, Ellie reluctantly accepts to help cover her family's overdue bills. The assignment quickly grows complicated: Ellie is secretly in love with Aster herself. Posing as Paul through a series of letters, texts, and shared artistic musings, Ellie forms a deep intellectual bond with Aster while unexpectedly forging a genuine, transformative friendship with Paul.
Thematic & Cinematic Analysis
Subverting the Cyrano de Bergerac Formula: Rather than relying on standard romantic-comedy tropes or farcical misunderstandings, Alice Wu uses the Cyrano framework to examine the nature of connections, platonic devotion, and self-discovery. The ultimate resolution focuses less on "getting the girl" and more on personal awakening and emotional integrity.
The Complexity of Platonic Connection: The film's most tender heart lies in the non-romantic relationship between Ellie and Paul. Their friendship breaks stereotypes—pairing an introverted, highly cerebral Chinese-American girl with an earnest, small-town jock—and serves as the catalyst for both characters to expand their worldviews.
Quiet Immigrant Isolation: Through Ellie's relationship with her widowed father, the film quietly captures the lingering grief, language barriers, and economic vulnerability experienced by immigrant families in isolated rural communities.
Visual Intimacy: Wu utilizes a soft, grounded visual palette that emphasizes nature, long quiet walks, and intimate framing. Moments of connection—such as floating in a hidden hot spring or sharing art references—are filmed with gentle patience.
Verdict
The Half of It is a warm, deeply intelligent, and profoundly empathetic queer coming-of-age story. Alice Wu treats teenage longing and identity with maturity and respect, crafting a classic that celebrates love in all its messy, incomplete, and beautiful forms.
🌟 CRITIC'S VERDICT 🌟
9/10 — A Masterpiece of Subtlety
“Alice Wu delivers one of the most mature and sophisticated contemporary coming-of-age stories in modern cinema. Rather than relying on cheap romance, the film offers a deep, poignant reflection on identity, platonic devotion, and the courage to embrace one's true self. An essential entry in the queer cinema canon.”
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