Hello pals and pans!
Today I am going to be doing a trailer review of “The Half of It” on Netflix starring Leah Lewis, Alexxis Lemire, and Daniel Diemer. This film follows Asian American teen, Ellie Chu, who has a side business of writing papers for her fellow peers for profit. Ellie’s life begins to change when Paul asks for Ellie’s help to write love letters to Aster Flores, unbeknownst to him that Ellie also loves her. This film places an importance on that of friendship and the idea of found family for many queer teens and adults is prominent.
Here is the link for you to check it out yourself; “The Half of It” trailer.
Please do your best to support this movie to ensure that we will be able to see more queer narratives written and starring people of color and those from marginalized identities.
Now here are my reactions as I watched the trailer…
“Ugh teenage white boys remain the worst.”
“Paul has such dumb straight best friend energy.”
“I too would have been in love with Aster Flores in high school.”
“‘Yeah, I know.’ Saddle up sapphics, let the longing begin. If they don’t end up together, I am going to sue.”
“Ellie said let me show the straights how it’s done.”
“Paul running after Ellie is high key adorable, we love friendship.”
“I felt that ‘c’mon dude’ in my soul.”
“I am screaming at Paul’s first attempt at playing ping pong, my god.”
“AWH THEY’RE BONDING.”
“Side note, where the hell is Squahamish?” (I tried to Google it; it may be a fake town sad.)
“THE SAPPHICS (hopefully?) WRITING LETTERS, my dream.”
“Ellie and Paul peaking through the grocery aisle staring at Aster is sending me.”
“You can tell that the director is queer because of the sapphic yearning of Ellie in that moment, omg.”
“The moment that Paul realized that Ellie liked Aster, THE WHOLESOMENESS.”
“‘Who you calling Chu Chu?’ brb I’m crying in the club.”
“IT’S ALL ABOUT THE FOUND FAMILY. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.”
“Also, side note, it’s so nice to see a movie that seems to be emphasizing the importance of friendship and platonic love. This could be such a great moment in film for aro-ace folks who want to watch a queer movie that isn’t entirely based on romantic and/or sexual love.”
“Ellie and Aster at the train track together. Ugh my heart.”
“Ellie screaming and cheering for Paul got me tearing up, IT’S FINE.”
This film drops May 1st on Netflix! Be sure to support this film surrounding a queer Asian American teen that is directed, written, and produced by Alice Wu, a lesbian Asian American woman. We need marginalized queer and coming out stories for all the generations of now and all those to come.