Another installment in Netflix’s teen romance sub-genre, The Half of It‘s main appeal is its LGBT heroine. Love, Simon aside, there’s little in the way of queer teen romance. And like Simon, while there are irritating moments in the screenplay, there’s still plenty of charm in the entire package. As a modern-day Cyrano de Bergerac for teens, The Half of It works thanks to its charming cast of characters and fresh direction.

The Brains, the Jock, the Girl

Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) is a straight “A” student, making money off her classmates by writing their papers, as her widowed father struggles to pay the bills. Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) is a not very bright jock with a crush on pretty girl Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). Paul pays Ellie to create love letters to Aster, hoping he can finally be with the girl he loves. The problem? Ellie also has a crush on Aster.

Already this is a great setup, but one of the best aspects about this premise are the characters. Alice Wu’s screenplay allows all three to rise above what could have been basic tropes. Ellie is awkward and insecure, being in a small town and in the closet. Yet she also has a passion for literature, is conflicted over her future, and yearns for company. Paul is a bit of a dope. However, he’s kind, has a passion for cooking, and wants to learn about literature and be a better person. Even Aster, who could have been a generic love interest, has plenty of character. She also has a passion for literature, and has issues growing up with a pastor father. Indeed, striking paralells to Ellie.

The characters are all likable and work off each other. The relationship between Ellie and Paul is believable and realistic, and both develop a sweet relationship with Aster as the film goes on. However, the strongest relationship is Ellie and her father. They have a genuine bond, and every moment between the two is just beautiful. Wu smartly uses this bond to embrace and showcase Ellie’s Chinese heritage, but does not make it her defining trait. There’s more to these people. Wu gives these characters depth and intrigue, which more than make up for some of the screenplay’s faults, like some cliche sequences and clunky dialogue.

Wu’s Sense of Love

Wu gives these characters depth and intrigue, which more than make up for some of the screenplay’s faults. Cliche sequences and clunky dialogue appear a touch too often, which does make it feel like it needed a rewrite.

However, Alice Wu, in both her screenplay and direction, bring what is most needed: love. There’s a passionate sense of love found in each of these characters and the world they live in. There are bullies and adversaries, but there’s a tender compassion emanating throughout the film. The shots showcase the hidden beauty of a small town, and Wu allows her actors to show the love they have. The awkwardness of Paul against Aster. Ellie and Aster’s growing freindship. The growing affection Ellie has toward Aster. Ellie and her father’s sweet relationship.

Alice Wu directs it with such delicacy that allows each moment to feel lovely and earned. This is her first film since 2005’s Saving Face, and it’s truly criminal something so human and sincere like this didn’t come earlier.

To Sum Up…

It is through Alice Wu’s direction The Half of It shines. There’s a great combination of talented actors with layered characters, resulting in subtle depth and gravitas to a supposedly simple teen romp. Within the seemingly never-ending supply of teenage romantic comedies found within Netflix’s original catalog, this is for sure one of the better offerings.

Read my Love, Simon review here