Movie review
May 1, 2020 · 104 min · PG-13
Woke Score
Lower is better
Review
A coming-of-age comedy-drama about a shy Chinese-American high school student who ghostwrites love letters for a jock classmate to woo a popular girl, only to develop feelings for the girl herself. The story explores friendship, different forms of love, and the protagonist’s queer identity in a small conservative town. Queer themes and the central same-sex attraction are audience-visible throughout the narrative.
Breakdown
These are the editorial factors and ratings behind our score for The Half of It.
Woke representation / casting
Casting matches the Chinese-American protagonist and story world with no mismatches or forced diversity.
Woke political dialogue
Limited dialogue on atheism, religion, and queerness acceptance.
Identity-driven story themes
Queer same-sex attraction drives the protagonist’s emotional arc and story.
Western institutional / cultural critique
Small-town religious setting includes brief homophobia that resolves with acceptance.
Woke character or canon changes
Not relevant
Production
Anti-woke backlash and complaints
Absence of notable anti-woke backlash; coverage praises queer representation instead.
Creator track record context
Alice Wu directed and wrote Saving Face, a film centered on queer Chinese-American themes.
