Our take
Following his sophomore feature Cha Cha Real Smooth, writer-director Cooper Raiff made his way to television with family dramedy Hal & Harper. This miniseries focuses on the two titular siblings, Raiff and Lili Reinhart respectively, who grow up in co-dependent adults as a result of their neglect from their single father (played by Mark Ruffalo). As such, both their child and adult selves are portrayed by the same actors. It’s a unique move for a unique dynamic. There are some quirks he brings from film, like the abrupt cuts and sudden needle drops, that sometimes doesn’t make sense for the show format. Nonetheless, Raiff’s naturalistic style and the ensemble’s emotionally vulnerable performances help us root for their bonds, despite all the hurt between them.
The story
Hal and Harper, two codependent siblings living in Los Angeles, try to preserve their childhood even though their single father forces them to grow up too fast.
Elsewhere
"When the series bottles its big feelings in profoundly relatable scenes, it shines, in part because Reinhart, Ruffalo, and Gilpin bring compelling tenderness to their characters’ ongoing torment."
— Ben Travers
"“Hal & Harper” masterfully weaves its tones, finding humor in the co-dependency of the siblings, even as it exposes the raw hurt underneath."
— Cristina Escobar
The details
Who picked it
Isabella Endrinal is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. She's now free from the corporate night shift. Previous articles have been published in outlets such as NANG Magazine. She's currently catching up on some classic films… if she isn't coping with the fact that the Haikyu anime will end soon.
