Courtesy of Netflix

Netflix’s new original movie, “The Half of It,” emphasizes both the importance and the complexity of love and friendship. Released on Friday, May 1, the movie follows Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) during her senior year of high school in a small town called Squahamish. Ellie lives with her single father in a small apartment above the local train station that she helps him run. To make some real cash, she runs a side business ghostwriting her classmates’ papers. She keeps a low profile and intends to go to school at a local college. It all seems to be working well for Ellie, that is, until jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) hires Ellie to write love letters for him in an attempt to date popular girl Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire). Charging $50 a letter, Ellie decides to help Paul out, investing much of her time into building a relationship with Aster through letters and eventually online messaging. 

However, once Paul actually goes on a date with Aster, it’s proven that Ellie is the brains behind this operation. After an awkward night of mumbling and one-word answers, Paul is ready to throw in the towel. However, Ellie isn’t ready to give up, instead taking on a larger role in Paul’s quest. Over the next few weeks, she coaches him in the art of holding a conversation, teaching him about art, books and how to talk to someone he likes. As Ellie teaches him about Aster and how to talk to her, a friendship grows between Paul and Ellie.

Sharing his love of “sausage tacos,” Paul becomes Ellie’s only friend in Squahamish. He is the only person who really understands and appreciates her. However, this friendship becomes compromised when Ellie falls for the girl she’s been building a relationship with for Paul. The girl she writes love letters to. The girl she messages at all hours of the day. The girl she cannot stop thinking about. Aster Flores: the same girl who Paul has fallen in love with. 

When Paul finds out Ellie’s secret, he doesn’t know what to think. Growing up in an extremely conservative and religious town, being gay is frowned upon and not really an option for Ellie. However, in the end, they both are able to understand love in a raw and honest way. Not every love story is a romance. Love isn’t an idealistic notion of happiness. It is very real and complicated. The truest forms of love and friendship are represented honestly and clearly in “The Half of It.” The characters go through the messiness that is love and come out the other end with a beautiful understanding and realization of what love is. If you want to see an incredible movie about the ups and downs of friendship and love, go watch “The Half of It” on Netflix.