If the name "Cyrano de Bergerac" doesn't ring a bell for you, don't worry — you might not know the 1897 play by Edmond Rostand, but you definitely know the its story. Throughout pop culture, Cyrano's story has been adapted over and over again, telling the tale of a lovelorn writer wooing the object of their affection on behalf of someone else. The Half of It follows in the footsteps of other Netflix original films like Sierra Burgess is a Loser by using that same framework, but Wu adds an appealing and inclusive twist.
As Ellie helps the clueless but well-intentioned Paul romance Aster, she grapples with her own secret: she's also in love with Aster. By placing a young, queer Chinese American girl at the center of a familiar story, Wu leaves her own mark on the coming of age genre and breathes new life into a staple of classic literature.
Throughout the film, Ellie writes letter after letter to Aster pretending that these lovelorn missives are from Paul, even as Paul completely ruins several dates with Aster. Eventually, Ellie's secret is revealed, and Aster realizes that she, not Paul, is writing these beautiful letters, which causes a crisis for Aster as she contends with her newfound feelings in a conservative family.
Paul and Aster also find themselves and evolve during The Half of It, but the real focus is on Ellie's journey as she finds her identity and struggles with family problems, all while preparing to face the challenges of college. As the film ends, she begins a new life, but can rest easy knowing that she was true to herself and helped both Aster and Paul make discoveries about themselves as well.
