An innovative romantic comedy which introduces us to new actors, and a different method of telling the story of longing and desire that sticks with you.
Anyone who has seen a handful of RomComs can, without fail, predict what the next one is going to have in it. The formula for a good RomCom hasn't changed for years, but The Half of It takes that formula and chucks it out, daring to do something different. It's part romance, part coming-of-age story, and part tragedy. As the protagonist, Ellie Chu, tells you early on in the story, this isn't one of "those" stories. One of the things you'll realize when you watch it is that, unlike a lot of other Netflix movies out there, you finish this one without actually wanting it to end.
The plot of The Half of It is a modern-day riff on the story of Cyrano de Bergerac. For those of us who aren't versed in literature, the plot follows an artful writer who has the task of creating romantic correspondence for their patron's love interest. The expected fallout is that the scribe falls hopelessly in love with their patron's object of desire. While this is already a compelling story, The Half of It takes the premise and sets it in a small Pacific North West town, with a cast of high school characters, surprisingly without the high-school drama we’re used to seeing in this setting.
If you're going into this movie expecting a good old romantic comedy, you might be pleasantly surprised. Instead of rehashing the old tropes of love, it instead focuses on a new feeling, that of desire, not for sex, but for understanding. Kudos to Netflix for taking a chance on this production, but even more props to director Alice Wu for weaving a tale for us that audiences will truly enjoy.
No script is flawless, but the integration of a classic story into a modern setting always comes with hiccups. In this case, the script does a great job of highlighting our protagonist and her woes with people either bullying her or simply not noticing who she is. She's one of those "background people" that make up the scenery of a school. From here, it expands on the character relationships, but with a considerable difference. Instead of your typical coming-of-age fare, which spends a lot of time focusing on the penchant for teenagers to want to get into one another's pants, this story deals with the thirst for finding someone who understands you. By the end of the first act, we know what our characters want, even though we don't see how they intend to get there. Aside from a few minor issues with character development, the script is a solid piece of cinema.
If you're looking for the likes of A-list actors, you won't find them here. Instead, the movie introduces us to a series of newcomers, each of which is impressive in their own right. Leah Lewis lends her talent to our protagonist Ellie Chu and does so masterfully. By the end of the first fifteen minutes, you can't imagine anyone else being Ellie. Supporting roles Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire) and Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) are also well done, with each character seeming unique, down to the way Paul texts (by having an embarrassing dependence on emojis). Collin Chou takes the role of Edwin, Ellie's dad, and delivers a heartbreaking rendition of a father who isn't sure about what to do next. Some may argue that the cast could benefit from more experienced actors, but I'd disagree. Part of the charm in this story is seeing these actors live the story, and it feels natural to see them in this setting.
If the film fails in one department, it's the pacing, but it doesn't drop the ball a lot here either. Arguably, this is Ellie Chu's story. We focus on her as she narrates the film. Even so, we get glimpses of the supporting characters. However, the amount of time spent developing the relationships between these characters leaves a bit to be desired. Yes, we do see Ellie develop feelings, but we don't observe a lot of parallel development for characters like Paul and Aster, who also make up a significant part of the plot. If there’s one thing this movie could have done better, it would be to extend the amount of time it spent on showing the desires of other supporting characters.
Honestly, there is very little to nitpick about the composition of this film. The scenes fit together seamlessly. At the end of it, the resolution may seem unsatisfying, especially if you're expecting a clear-cut ending. However, this isn't a "the hero gets the girl" sort of story. It's a story that makes the viewer think and consider relationships through the lens of desire. There's no easy answers and no winners and losers in the grander scheme of things.
Depending on your point of view, there may be a pyrrhic victory somewhere inside there. Even so, the movie's premise is messy, and while the conclusion doesn't tie up loose ends into a cute, neat bow, in that way, it's more reflective of life, where there's no such thing as a tidy conclusion.
In all of Netflix's attempts at creating cinema, many films like this one fall through the cracks. It's an unpleasant consequence, given how amazing the talent of the actors and director is. The roles don't feel forced, even though some might argue they push for diversity. This movie is a perfect example of how to include a diverse cast alongside a narrative that promotes acceptance. If you're looking for a typical RomCom that's all cotton-candy and no substance, then you'd want to give this one a miss. If, however, you want a movie that changes your perspective and makes you think about the consequences of choices and the morality of desire, then this one should get a bump up to the top of your list.
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