agmtw logo
search
The Half of It (2020)

The Half of It (2020)

PG-13

netflix

An atmospheric romance that starts with “this is not a love story"

7.3

Movie

United States of America
English, French, Hindi
Comedy, Drama, Romance
2020
ALICE WU, FEMALE DIRECTOR
Abigail Donaghy, Alec Tincher, Alexandre Bagot
104 min

What it's about

Shy, straight-A student Ellie is hired by sweet but inarticulate jock Paul, who needs help wooing the most popular girl in school. But their new and unlikely friendship gets tricky when Ellie discovers she has feelings for the same girl.

The take

This lovely romance is about Ellie, a straight-A student who takes money from a classmate, Paul, to write love letters for him. Ellie does this to help with the household bills but there is one big problem: the girl Paul is in love with is also the girl Ellie has a crush on.

This might seem like the set-up for a standard Netflix comedy (and if you’re thinking Bergerac, you’re right, it is based on the famous play) but as the introduction of the film reads: “This is not a love story … not one where anyone gets what they want."

It is in fact, personal work from a brilliant and quality-focused director, Alice Wu. Her last movie, Saving Face, a pioneering lesbian romance set in an Asian American context, was released a long 15 years ago.

Comments

This was a good one. I love all stories where any of the main characters is a cyclist. An easy watch. 5/5 would recommend.

A great romance. Beautifully scripted and acting was top-notch, thanks to the team for suggesting this epic classic :).

Add a comment

Your name

Your comment

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

UP NEXT 

Booksmart (2019)

Two academic overachievers from high school set out to prove that they're a smart and fun for one last time.

9.0

The African Doctor (2016)

A feel-good story of one French village’s first African family

7.2

The Secret of the Grain (2007)

The saga of one immigrant's life in Southern France

8.5

Dating Amber (2020)

An Irish comedy-romance with a smart twist

7.6

Tom at the Farm (2015)

Xavier Dolan brings white knuckle intensity to this taut thriller

8.0

A Brighter Summer Day (1991)

A rich, melancholy tale of 1960s youth in Taiwan

9.0

Manon of the Springs (1986)

Continuing the story of Jean de Florette, Manon of the Springs follows a quiet young woman who must avenge her father and protect the springs from two crooked men

7.5

Kaili Blues (2015)

A hypnotic piece of slow cinema that disintegrates the boundaries between past and present

8.0

Things to Come (2016)

A beautiful, bittersweet portrait of resilience

8.5

Dìdi (弟弟) (2024)

Sean Wang remembers internet adolescence in this fresh, honest coming-of-age comedy drama

8.4

Curated by humans, not algorithms.

agmtw logo

© 2024 agoodmovietowatch, all rights reserved.