The Half of It (2020)

A pensive, earnest look at first love, friendship, and living your truth.

Regan Humphrey

Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis), a shy intellectual outcast, is surviving her final year of high school by keeping her head down and managing an academic side hustle—writing her peers’ papers for cash. When a classmate, Paul (Daniel Diemer), a simple, honest athlete, approaches her about writing a love letter on his behalf to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), Ellie refuses. Writing love letters is outside her area of expertise, as is making a new friend and unwittingly falling for his crush.

REF SCORE: 70%

Soundtrack: 5%
Story: 100%
Writing: 100%
Diversity: 100%
Daring: 100%
Racism: PRESENT — 30%
Gender Bias: COMBATTED — 80%
Homophobia: COMBATTED — 100%

SUMMARY
A coming-of-age story that tackles attraction, love, religion, and friendship in unexpected and unexpectedly nuanced ways.