I cried my eyes out watching "The Half Of It" 😭 (Movie Reaction)

You ever cry watching a movie about an awkward Asian girl who looks like you, dresses like you, and has a dumb best friend like you?! The first 1000 who click this link will get 2 free months of Skillshare Premium: skl.sh/readwithcindy16
👍 1 like = 1 taco sausage made by your beloved himbo
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CREDITS
🎵 music: bad day - daniel powter
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*Please read my FAQ before contacting me at / readwithcindy

[@blanquitaa]

i appreciate how cindy starts crying and then she just makes a joke to cover her emotions as quick as possible

[@withcindy]

please do not expose me like this

[@erinalexander4017]

Cindy 15 minutes later: unpin🤣🤣

[@sclohessy4759]

@@withcindy conceal don't feel don't let it show

[@urgonnabeok]

blanquita actually though lmao

[@Udontkno7]

that slightly traumatized lewk

[@SaraH-jn5db]

When mediocre white boy stood up in the middle of church and said gay rights i cried

[@withcindy]

we love an ally

[@useroffline9999]

Beautiful 💅🏽

[@alypritchett2883]

Same!

[@doggytheanarchist7876]

The bar is so low it's like the limbo.

[@lrm9298]

Ya, no that's when I cried too

[@scout72430]

I know I'm late to this movie, but did anyone else notice how Paul also helped Ellie's dad out of his depression? I just thought it was so cute how he started to bring him those stupid sausages LOL and by the end of the movie, her dad was wearing a suit instead of his pjs. 😭

[@avsambart]

Paul and her dad was my favourite part!!! Their scenes were so wholesome 😭

[@helenwinter3320]

yess i knoww it made me cry 😭

[@adwoaowusu7208]

It’s the character development for me

[@GINSHOTGUN]

I know right 😭

[@spammusubi1607]

IKRR it was so wholesomeeee

[@elliexaster4763]

I just realized they called her chugga chugga chu chu because her last name is chu and she works at a train station-

[@SaraH-jn5db]

Took me like 3 months and multiple watches to realize that too

[@tedros6917]

it's honestly pretty clever, if only it wasn't said as an insult

[@iferawhite7661]

Oh my god I didn't realize that jesus I am dumber than the freaking himbo I thought they called her chugga chugga chu chu because she had such a slow ass bike, so IDK it was like... the train engine that could but in a very snarky side-remark kind of way as an insult to how damn slow her bike is

[@areolagarage1528]

FR it’s so funny how ppl put in so much effort to make ppl feel bad about themselves 💀

[@renzbar150]

Fun fact: it was based on Alice Wu's real life experience bc of her name.

[@Casper-hn7qq]

Paul is like a golden retriever dog but a human

[@withcindy]

that must be why i love him

[@MystearicaClaws]

My thoughts exactly while he was chasing the train. Lolling tongue and all🤣🤣🤣 he's a good boi!!!

[@BelladonnaHarker]

the ultimate himbo

[@qualcosadinerd7471]

Now I cannot unsee it anymore

[@DingoTheDemon]

Ngl that's my type

[@MinaReads]

cindy saying "he's so dumb" while sobbing is the ultimate mood

[@withcindy]

a perpetual mood

[@watcherboy2723]

Me reading fan fiction with misunderstandings and angst and they’re just both pining over each other and they just are so dumb

[@InfinitelyAnon]

The face he was making.... we love a himbo ally

[@booperdooper9762]

I- yes T_T

[@ellesmith1801]

He may be a dumbass, but he’s *our* dumbass

[@samanthasherrard162]

I think Paul’s little “there’s more than one way to love” speech in the church was also referencing not just the gay but also love in general. At first he was like “dating/love is going out and making out and physicality and the sort” and after meeting Ellie his perspective changes about what love is

[@roxys207]

Exactly this! I also thought he was talking about his relationship with Ellie.

[@ellenkristiantisitompul5683]

I thought he was talking about his relationship with ellie and not about gay relationship

[@northbelle2317]

There IS after all more than one kind of love. Eros, phillia(?) I forgot the others but yeah 😂

[@vexusmorpheus932]

@@northbelle2317 p l a t o n i c

[@seatheparade]

Yesss she changes every perspective of his and they made each other grow with their friendship!

[@Abidaily247]

I know im watching this really late but when paul says 'its a sin, you're going to hell' I always think he says that not to make ellie feel bad or to be homophobic but i think it's the realisation for him that acording to the religious world hes been brought up in his friend will be going to hell. i think that scene shows how the surroundings paul grew up in affected his world view but i also think it shows how much paul has come to care for ellie so finding out that ellie likes aster is difficult for him because he doesnt want his friend to go to hell and suffer but also maybe the realisation that everyone in their town will think that ellie is going to hell and he doesn't want his town to hate ellie. maybe im reading way past the line but i can't help but think that when i watch that scene.

[@clemencefurnari679]

I felt the same way, his fear of losing her and seeing her hated by everyone was really well portrayed, plus I think his words were supposed to be just thoughts that he said out loud because he was so shocked, so he haven't processed it enough to know he hurts her the moment he said it

[@Shona100]

I felt like he was kinda saying what everyone around him projected into his brain and so it sounded like he was just repeating words from what he grew up on

[@somebody0586]

Yup thats what i thought too since he was looking down and not at her ... thats what we do when we are in those realistaion times ,we speak to ourselves .

[@strangersopinion8243]

I read somewhere that the first thought or opinion about something is usually laced with standards or reasons(opinions ) we are surrounded by and somehow grew up with, the second thing that comes to your mind is what you think. So I agree.

[@kaidouhottopicgiftcard]

I know that it is a very important and emotional scene but I can't help but laugh when he says that. I'm a bisexual girl so I'd probably be really upset if someone said that to me but he says it in such an overly dramatic way it's just so hard to not laugh.

[@aanchalsaxena1135]

WE NEED TO APPRECIATE HIMBO'S MOM THOUGH LIKE SHE THOUGHT HE'S GAY, AND WAS LIKE I STILL LOVE YOU THEN HE SAYS HE MIGHT WANT TO CHANGE THE RECIPE AND GETS HIT WITH HER PURSE

[@ds-lb6ms]

she said : not the fucking recipe my himbo son

[@RealMexFoodShouldntGiveUDrrhea]

That part had me laughing 😂

[@CeCe1066]

Aanchal Saxena I LOVED THAT!!! I had to replay it cause it was just golden🤣

[@sketchlee1856]

She's got her priorities straight

[@marisevw7935]

... and then when he’s like ‘I’m not gay’ she says ‘oh thank god’... that’s not what I call acceptance

[@shebagal12]

“If she straight don’t worry wait till she graduates art school” as someone who started art school straight and ended it with being bisexual...I feel called out

[@withcindy]

another one bites the dust

[@terrasimone5528]

Did we have the exact same college experience??? lol

[@shebagal12]

Terra Simone must have 😂😂

[@mildredhuertas9573]

I am in art school and am bisexual, I feel called out

[@tailbonetailbone9380]

Life constructs, college deconstructs. I mean seriously, I entered med school a straight moderate and now I'm a bi communist. And I have T H R E E M O R E Y E A R S

[@soupandsalad7624]

AS AN AROMANTIC PERSON THE IDEA OF PLATONIC SOULMATES HITS ME SO HARD AND IM SOBBING BYE

[@yziez]

AHHHHHH metooooo and I love their platonic relationship!!! Just the fact that it’s platonic makes me so happppyyyy

[@vexusmorpheus932]

HEY ARO BUDDYY

[@goblinhat0985]

im not aro but me and my bestie have so many failed relationships we realised were platnic soulmates because she is the one person i feel super connected to, and i dont need to love her romantically because ive got her as my friend

[@vexusmorpheus932]

@@goblinhat0985 I'm glad you found them :)

[@naranciabestboi8498]

AHH SAMEE

[@kennennededy3767]

netflix is really coming thru with all these amazing himbo/lesbian friendships.... ellie and paul, steve and robin, syd and stan....

[@heralisa3202]

The fact I know all of them YESSSS

[@Ari_Nekochan]

Where are the other two came from?

[@fae2797]

@@Ari_Nekochan steve and robin from stranger things, syd and stan from im not okay with this.

[@luuuuux_]

Yes. I know all of them!

[@CutsiePie_]

Syd is actually bisexual but ok

[@rozmia9102]

When Cindy guesses the entire plot beat for beat in the first minute I-

[@withcindy]

I'm a natural at guessing teen movies lol

[@jolintoh]

i know right!!! i was SHOCKED

[@half-bakedthot]

lmao i did the exact same thing almost immediately like every single beat but i LOVED it for its tropeyness

[@DonMutley]

not only first minute, but from THE TRAILER. I'm just... shocked

[@gabssza8569]

This means that set ups and pay offs make sense and are sensible so that's good

[@sarvcsm7208]

this movie made me realize my favorite duo ever is stupid straight man with good intentions and smart shy lovestruck lesbian . i just think we need more of this

[@bm-oy7oz]

I’m not okay with this

[@ives6622]

Sydney and Stanley Steve and Robin

[@almi7256]

But consider, they're both gay

[@valentinavillota3348]

Noah and Audrey!

[@lindseyw5023]

The pairing we never knew we needed 🥺❤️

[@Eliaskip]

I was trying to figure out where I knew Paul’s actor from. Then I realized I knew him from every Golden Retriever ever

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

Lmaooooo

[@additionalsky]

OMG THAT SMILE IN THE CHURCH HIT ME IN THE SOUL

[@tatianabarrios8358]

The true mr peanutbutter

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Cannot unsee Mr. Peanutbutter from him.

[@combat_chameleon]

EXACTLY, he smiling while running along w the train literally made me said out loud that he's just like a dog

[@alexandram2486]

Aster: It's nice hanging out with girls and not talking about boys for a change Also Aster, 5 seconds later: I'm gonna marry Trig

[@JM-vr1br]

She doesn’t have enough personality to do anything else.😂

[@meriem.j.3633]

@@JM-vr1br That is her personality, seriously. Her dilemma is that she's spent her whole life fitting a role so she doesn't know herself. That's her character development and it's really obvious if you pay attention to her that this is it. ALSO when she was saying "I'm happy to not talk about boys" she means she's happy to not be putting these assholes on a pedestal just to fit in with the other girls. The contrast when she talked with Ellie was that she was being honest about her struggles on not wanting to to be tied down, and being conflicted with ideologies she grew up with (as a Latina) and the reality she wants to live. Y'all need to look at her character more because (again as a Latina) this happens a lot (not the being pretty but the having to fit in and losing yourself) so maybe I just caught onto nuance you didn't, but she's deffo my favorite character.

[@meriem.j.3633]

@@JM-vr1br Ellie also pointed out how she "stops being so perfect [when she laughs]" at 16:29

[@TenderNoodle]

@@meriem.j.3633 doesn’t mean she isn’t boring to watch lol

[@thatrantinggirl7376]

Kinda sus how quiet Shakespeare's been since Himbo dropped that letter

[@Network-yp8de]

oop- drag him paul

[@noonstyles3973]

Underrated comment 🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@clownestfan]

you might say.... as quiet as the dead o.o

[@Winkiefacedd]

Lmao the funny think is that your likes are on 4k 🤣 im sorry I laugh too easily

[@peeblespebbles5689]

I'm an idiot, I just noticed this. At the start of their messages Ellie says "If I knew what love was, I'd quote myself" and the last quote screen was a quote from Ellie about love. BECAUSE SHE LEARNED! Was this blinding obvious to everyone? Is my brain a potato? Please someone else say they missed this the first time!

[@blueberrymuffin113]

Peebles Pebbles No, your brain is not a potato! I didn’t notice it either! Thanks for letting me know, this is beautiful!

[@rosadiaz6770]

Wow actually your brain is not a potato, but for those of us whose brains are, you are right here helping us out!❤️ Also, can't help but imagine how hard Cindy would roast me if I were in a movie. And probably also if I were a booktuber. Lol.

[@alysham4n4l0]

no i missed this lol

[@loveloveaii]

That’s just beautiful

[@geminijones3414]

I legit missed it the first time too, so if your brain is a potato, then my brain is also a potato. Potato brain and proud.

[@kristenjones355]

I wrote a theatre kids WHOLE PLAY (13 pages) and i charged them $100 and they gave me $200 because he ended up getting an A+

[@v0id_d3m0n]

stonks

[@daliluher9435]

Fuck yeah 🔥 got that bag. I once got 200 (pesos) for editing a video for someone's history project. The most basic of things and I did it in max 3 hours.

[@adeleaslan8182]

Aw how sweet

[@BritneyT.]

This is what I aspire to be

[@ashleyvirtuoso618]

@@daliluher9435 200 pesos?! nahhhh you shouldve charged higher than that🤣

[@lesbians4_mothman104]

“Girl your lesbian is showing” is the best line

[@renshifter3804]

Fun fact the director said that she wrote this movie because of heart break, but not because of love love but because she lost her best friend. Apparently she n the guy were best friends until he started dating a girl and the gf felt intimidated by their closeness as friends so they stopped hanging out :( Edit: oop guess I should've mentioned that the director is a lesbian and the guy knew that.

[@withcindy]

awwwwww :((((

[@whatjadecreates]

That’s actually annoyingly sad 😔

[@a.l.michael6240]

That’s terrible.

[@megib901]

@@withcindy she also has another movie about 2 Asian women falling in love and it has so much Asian rep in it ! It's called Saving Face and it's so nice.

[@iciajay6891]

That sucks. My sisters bff is a guy named Jesse. They have been bff's for like 15 years. My bff, her other bff is a guy. It can be done. You just gotta be open about shit.

[@tiffanymariehill8557]

When you realize all that running Paul did throughout the moving was training to chase after Ellie’s train😢

[@bobbierichards7299]

Omg yess I never realized that

[@Network-yp8de]

AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH WHY U MAKE ME CRY LIKE THIS

[@francescakyanda9182]

gahhhhhhh imma go CRY NOW

[@superstellarhere]

Oooooohhhhh

[@laurelarianeregibeau-rocke4874]

Nooooooooooooooooooooo why must you say these things? :'(

[@annadau8612]

Paul's invention of a taco sausage is an allusion to his love for Aster as it mixes a traditional dish from Aster's heritage (tacos from Mexico) with his own (sausages from Germany).

[@nandithaanil2002]

You just blew my mind-

[@v0id_d3m0n]

woah there is so much symbloism in this movie

[@booperdooper9762]

That's so cute

[@confusedpotato5017]

waits he's german?

[@anna831]

Hi! This guy is probably immigrant from poland (maybe second generation) that’s why he loves sausages (and giving food is his love language), speaks like this and he has loud and big family. So my theory is that he is polish himbo (his surname is Muński/Munsky)

[@withcindy]

Awww I love that!

[@gabssza8569]

I wish our main export were supportive golden retriever himbos 😭😭😭

[@thatb1h855]

probably second gen. the recipe is from his grandma, so it can be assumed that she migrated to america and had Paul's mum

[@hat7475]

Headcanons yeaHHH!!!!

[@011mph]

"Not all men" you're right Paul would never

[@adrianbooklecter7545]

“You think that reading books gives you a personality” I feel personally attacked.

[@withcindy]

I'm attacking booktube

[@tranhanam0027]

@@withcindy The queen is dealing out some truths!

[@hmjolley]

It’s my only personality trait during quarantine

[@ohohnenyeoo2654]

AdrianBookLecter 😂😂

[@thebookhunter2913]

Hahahhaha The shadeeeeeee

[@thatshadowgirl]

i kinda love how quickly paul worked through a lifetime of religious homophobia to support his bff like stan!!!!!

[@sarroumarbeu6810]

🥺🥺

[@margarete5920]

"If she straight, don't worry. Wait until she graduates art school. Then we fucking got her." GIRL LOLLL i entered art school straight and graduates as bi and like, my 5 other friends hahahaha

[@withcindy]

excellent

[@salem-01]

The gay agenda is working

[@Paracrom]

Cindy: do you think reading books gives you a personality? Me: *i silently meet myself in the mirror, my reflection mouths 'no'*

[@withcindy]

im gonna put this mirror up in front of booktube

[@aalba9107]

I felt that-

[@orimengu]

@@withcindy oooh what a burn

[@adrianbooklecter7545]

666 likes, no one else is allowed to like this

[@madigable2125]

When you look at Ellie and Paul as platonic soulmates, the opening scene hits you harder than the train scene.

[@eastonlaskey6825]

Paul wasn't a homophobe. He WAS homophobic but only cus he was raised that way. That was a big part of the story. The live in a small, Christian, racist, and homophobic town. He didn't know any better.

[@aleb8244]

yeah you can tell with his mom saying "oh it's Paul's Chinese friend" 💀

[@frenchgirl5878]

We can say that about every racist person though. That’s not a valid excuse.

[@AmandaPanda531]

@@frenchgirl5878 it's not an excuse but it gives context to a person. a lot of the time, hatred is taught, so living in a racist/homophobic society can teach people to be that way. they're ignorant and can unlearn their hatred, but it takes time, education, and willingness. now, if they're given access to the education and refuse to learn, that's their own fault. with paul, he was taught to be homophobic, but he sought out education and understanding to unlearn the hatred.

[@digitalmimi]

The scene with her Dad and Paul actually had me tearing up. It felt so dignifying. I love that he spoke in Mandarin instead of English, because I know that feeling of wanting to express something and knowing that no one around you will understand, but just saying it anyway because it’s more for you than for others.

[@olliealger-obelia6842]

man, i teared up at your comment

[@blubberingbuffoons]

​@@olliealger-obelia6842bro me too

[@hershey4079]

I could physically see your heart stop when he said "I like nazis"

[@withcindy]

thats why i clutched my heart

[@25luvfaith]

“do you think books give you a personality” i have nothing else Cindy don’t take this from me

[@withcindy]

im sorry u can have this, as a treat

[@cryingthrowingup4256]

cindy: you can have a little personality, as a treat

[@ButterflyColors]

Alternative title for this movie: Sappho and Bimbo

[@meriem.j.3633]

Y'all forgetting the latina 😟

[@myriamanonya7142]

@@meriem.j.3633 who’s Latina ?

[@meriem.j.3633]

@@myriamanonya7142 I don't remember her name, but the girl that the Sappho and Bimbo are both in love with :D

[@myriamanonya7142]

@@meriem.j.3633 she's latina?

[@madhatter4129]

Aster, people, ASTER💀

[@lauramartens30]

*Cindy literally said "My secret is I'm an Asian Lesbian..."* She said it She can't deny it anymore SHE SAID IT

[@nailinthefashion]

The foreshadowing was as clear and beautiful as any crystal thats ever formed

[@rebeccaly633]

“ it’s always the brunette girl reading a book in the corner to make up for lack of personality” Me: a brunette that likes to read Also me: damn I didn’t expect to get crucified by Cindy

[@morley364]

Me, a brunette girl, realizing I have no personality: *throws a book at the problem*

[@delightfulmochas]

*Belle from Beauty and the Beast is quaking*

[@graceless000]

Me

[@youareloved4226]

@@morley364 okay but not having a personality isn't a problem. it's okay to not know who you are. you are not obligated to know how you want to be to deserve love and respect and have your presence enjoyed by others

[@itsbambi92]

I’m a brunette and I buried myself in books during high school because I struggled to fit in. I was too weird I guess and my family didn’t really like my “strong personality”. Whatever that meant. I tried to become what people wanted or think would like because it seemed that was the only way people would “accept me” but then I lost myself and became unhappy. I didn’t accept myself and I think that’s why I didn’t fit in because I didn’t think I could. It’s still a challenge feeling lost and not fully knowing yourself despite the years. From an outsiders perspective, one would think “of course it’s the brunette reading a book lacking personality” but I guess from my perspective it was an escape of a reality I didn’t want to be a part of and I wanted to see if I could find some inspiration from the people I read about in the stories. I was hoping for happy endings but then when I finished reading it left me unsatisfied and realizing that there are no happy endings. You can’t take someone’s life in a story and make it your own. You can’t expect that what happens in the story it’ll be the same outcome. What I did take away is that these stories give you hope that despite the hardships, there’s always a way and the ending is left as an open ending.

[@aidam7822]

this movie's leads showcase the true spectrum of humanity: himbo - gay

[@withcindy]

i adore both

[@coliyllahnnaht.6274]

then there are those of us who are brave enough to be both

[@parkchimmin7913]

Coliyllahnnah T. Gimbo? Hay? Himga? Boay?

[@aidam7822]

@@parkchimmin7913 Gimbo soumds legendary

[@parkchimmin7913]

butterflyy Gimbo it is!

[@miyunidinara4097]

Paul is dumb but, he does have some emotional intelligence, you know after some time and training

[@LivinitBigTime]

Okay, but I love how in the end, the real soulmates this movie ended up being about were Ellie and Paul, showing that platonic love is just as important as romantic.

[@katescorner7658]

Cindy every five seconds: “this is gonna be foreshadowing” Cindy every two seconds: “this is a pg13 movie! Taco sausage? Don’t be so nasty!” Cindy every one second: “HIMBO!”

[@withcindy]

my jokes in a nutshell

[@kristidavidhi1756]

only two braincells dont forget bout that

[@ajesguerra9560]

The guy is actually somehow refreshing to watch because finally we don’t have an overly-confident guy. 🤣

[@withcindy]

i luv him!!

[@punkartwantstew]

"Look at that himbo, he's such an idiot. But I love him" is one of the only positive things I can think about men in a good movie

[@Fiona-fk9zo]

When Paul said Ellie was going to hell I got so sad because I feel like he is saying that because he know thinks his best friend is going to hell. That's how he was raised and it's just so sad on both ends and it makes me so sad but in the end it's okay and he learns, but man that scene killed me : (

[@yziez]

He’s just a Himbo with mix views :(

[@chedderman101]

I love how the soulmate thing was portrayed. I honestly feel like my friend are soul mates (we both straight dudes... I know SAD) but we just “connected” like THAT. complete opposite people from completely different upbringings (I’m Native American he a white boy, I’m poor he’s rich, etc) friendship soulmates are great. This movie got me crying cuz my friend is as himbo and he dumb as hell but his heart is in the right place lmao 😂

[@starrynight5207]

look up the pre dunya, it sounds similar to what you’re saying, as in connecting

[@oliviadavis9639]

Aw why did I love reading this 🥺

[@brandleythecat4570]

Yes! Platonic soulmates for the win!

[@oof-rr5nf]

i am so happy for you and also getting weepy :''''')

[@coralia.i9702]

ME BEING DUMB AS HELL AND MY BEST FRIEND FACEPALMING

[@artisticaperture846]

why is cindy lecturing ellie about her flat rate while waving around cantaloupe on a fork such a Mood

[@withcindy]

i just think ellie could do better, she's underselling herself

[@artisticaperture846]

@@withcindy It's true and you should say it

[@madeleinekennedy5342]

I know i love it

[@iciajay6891]

It's an aesthetic.

[@Krjwzhr]

Omg yes! That was the only thing that got me pissed off. Literally was watching the movie, ranting through the scene about her poor business choice. Like 3-10 pages for $20? ELLIE! Is you dumb? $10 per page minimum.

[@jennynykonorova5254]

"if he runs after her TRAIN im gonna CRY" (2 seconds later, in tears" "...i knew it" cindy ur so full of heart i genuinely laughed im currently working on a boring ass assignment for school so im happy you make it just a bit more bearable

[@ea7109]

He was just soo innocent. I love how he supported her. The scene where he ran after the car of teens who disrespected her and when he gave her the guitar😍 . Had my hand on my heart for a majority of the movie🥰🥰

[@jaysahunter256]

I like how Cindy says she loves Paul but is roasting him the whole video but is also exactly like him

[@chaido]

"he can't process more than two emotions at once, it's too much for his brain" for a quick second I thought you were talking about me

[@withcindy]

who said i wasnt

[@rosadiaz6770]

Same sis same 😭

[@readingrosie2184]

"you think a guy asks? you think a guy asks for consent?" damn too real

[@peepmam]

"OMG HE'S LEARNING HIS ABCs! we love character development" IM DEAD

[@lyannastarkweather]

There's a small part of me that wants Ellie and Aster to reconnect a few years later, once Aster goes to art school and gets a personality.

[@withcindy]

i think ellie can do better than aster hehehe

[@awesomeEVILbunny]

OH SHIT SPILL THAT TEA, SIS

[@reesekosinski124]

I just want the sequel to be called The Rest Of It

[@sophiemontecalvo7503]

I totally get that, but.... this was Ellie's movie, not a love story. It was about her coming to terms with herself and taking a "bold stroke." Would it be awesome to see the two of them years later? Definitely, but I feel like this movie ended perfectly. It's just open enough that you can assume Ellie and Aster would reconnect, and she and Paul would retain their friendship. The movie focused perfectly on both Ellie's friendship and romantic loves, but ultimately it was about her. We got that kiss, so I feel satisfied.

[@angelbiscuits]

when the himbo ran after the train, it reminded me of a dog running after their owner 😢😭

[@withcindy]

awwww cute lil puppy!!

[@coRynnstar]

Cindy crying "he's so dumb" with pity and fondness is a mood i feel OFTEN

[@DoraG99]

My favourite part of this vid is the subtitles cause 90% are right but then you get ‘Jewish trees’ and ‘Pastor no’ lmfao

[@DoraG99]

'when chrome horse was a jin troll' wow the subtitles can speak mandarin too!!1!!!

[@lovelykitty42]

and i don’t think it’s auto generated which makes it even better

[@taylorsversion3663]

@@DoraG99 i cried not bc of what the guy was actually saying (i wouldn't understand anyway) but because of the damn subtitles

[@declanlevesque8015]

I loved this movie because it’s main character is a “not like other girls” type but isn’t obnoxious about it

[@withcindy]

i agree!

[@LoveK1]

Because it’s real and not an act she’s putting on to be edgy.

[@saitamatrash2527]

Declan Levesque yeh but she doesn’t dislike other girls or put them down which is an important characteristic of “not like other girls” girl. She’s just a loner, who’s sad cuz she lost her mum.

[@declanlevesque8015]

Saitama Trash that’s what I mean by she’s not obnoxious about it, she knows she’s different but doesn’t judge other people for not being as smart as her

[@pellaw8011]

Honestly I felt like Aster was kind of a NLOG girl

[@enyaroberts4988]

Cindy sobbing "he's so dumb" with tears falling down her face is honestly a solid mood.

[@withcindy]

the bigger he smiled the more i cried

[@cryingthrowingup4256]

readwithcindy HIS SMILE WAS SO DUMB

[@awesomeEVILbunny]

Did anyone else get annoyed that most of Aster’s acting was: “O-oh.. *mouth twitch, eyebrow twitch, hair tuck*”

[@vsboardza]

Bella Stewart .2

[@gracegardner9409]

@@vsboardza but *gay* bella stewart...

[@noahmurphygordon1928]

Taco sausage is the bi representation we all crave

[@stutid582]

Noooooooo omg 😂😂😂😂

[@trees____383]

Cindy: If she’s straight don’t worry wait till she graduates art school... Me: *clutches my sketchbooks*

[@withcindy]

U aren't safe from it either

[@useroffline9999]

I came into performing arts school a lesbian and came out trans

[@FlyingWolfWings]

Cindy, sobbing uncontrollably: "He's so dumb... He's so dumb!!"

[@soulvasseur7138]

I have a crush on all three main characters, but mostly Paul. When he's being all dumb and adorable on screen, I'm just like "damn it not again, I am NOT turning MORONSEXUAL for this FICTIONAL STRAIGHT BOY."

[@Vivian2043]

Thanks to your comment now I have the urge to get a tattoo with the phrase "I am NOT turning MORONSEXUAL for this FICTIONAL STRAIGHT BOY" and I swore I would never get any words tattooed on me.

[@Vivian2043]

Screw it. One day in the future, I'm getting a T-shirt with that sentence. It's just so freaking relatable.

[@linatwoones]

What I really love about this movie are the conversations. They feel so natural, like the general awkwardness of teenagers, the sarcastic bits. I don’t really know how to describe it exactly but it really made the movie for me. The relationship dynamics between all the characters were so unique too. Man I love this.

[@seatheparade]

Ikr the screenwriting was so naturalistic! I think if we read it without hearing or seeing the actors we'd still know which character was speaking, and that shows how well the script portrays each unique character

[@etherealmushroom846]

Cindy encouraging a fellow Asian to be more selfish (in terms of charging more money for her work) is surprisingly entertaining.

[@withcindy]

i always encourage selfishness

[@nicolefendi3896]

Cindy: "I profit off my tears" me: *already halfway through emptying my wallet*

[@withcindy]

money pwease

[@teresabakalarska6001]

I kid you not I read "*empathying* my wallet" and was like ~same~

[@brilliantlyizzy725]

I'm going to play devils advocate and say that I loved how they handled Paul needing time to accept changing his perception of Elly. He was raised in a small town with certain ideals which he had not had to challenge until he met Elly. To expect any 17 year old to suddenly jump without questioning or needing a minute to reflect is unrealistic. He's shown the whole movie that he is caring and accepts Elly for who she is and we know he will figure out. He's a product of his environment, people need time to adjust to new ideas and beliefs and its should be okay to hold space while you figure it out. I think they portrayed a healthy idea of changing beliefs and coming into acceptance. People have their own journeys towards changing a belief system or coming to acceptance and so long as they get there without hurting anyone it should be allowed! It was one of my favourite things about the movie.

[@sugassugar8036]

Thank you for this! I somewhere related to Paul with the whole homophobic environment ish. I grew up in one, and I remember being 13 and finding out what it means to be gay and my first thought was it must be so "wrong". Thank god! I researched and figured out - it took time. That's why I loved how realistic that part was.

[@BritneyT.]

Yes!!

[@olivercetus6956]

This movie was lesbian and himbo solidarity omg I love it

[@aanchalsaxena1135]

Honestly, the Asian representation was SO GOOD in this movie, and also I screamed when that Bollywood movie scene came up :")

[@rishitaumasankaran7159]

YES

[@Roma-kp4qg]

I love that this comment summoned 3 other Indians to come and scream about the Bollywood movie including me

[@rakshyakharel9398]

OH MY GOD I HAVE BEEN LOOKING EVERYWHERE FOR SOMEONE TO COMMENT ABOUT THIS!!!

[@164vishakhakeshavaprasad2]

One more has been summoned lolol

[@kumarabhishek1500]

ONE MORE HAS BEEN SUMMONED

[@humbuggery0511]

I’d rather watch Cindy cry over nerd-jock friendships than pay attention in history any day of the week

[@withcindy]

i love nerd-jock friendships!!

[@raven4029]

Legit doing history work rn whaaaaaat

[@humbuggery0511]

a shadow reader Coincidence? I think not

[@sincerelycezlie1431]

I SAW BOLLYWOOD AND FREAKING SQUEALED! THE AMOUNT OF CULTURAL REPRESENTATION HERE IS IMMACULATE!

[@Arya-cs7kj]

27:57 Paul runs after the train. Ellie: he's moron. Cindy: he's so dumb. Me: I know. 🥺

[@kaylamorgan9094]

“You gotta take you reparations. Make your ancestors proud”. Cindy, as an African born black woman I have never heard anything truer

[@withcindy]

YESSSS

[@isanagill]

Lmao why is everyone out here tryna act like Paul doesn’t have depth to his character, I think he is really simple and doesn’t have much to say but he’s really sweet and nice and yeah, sometimes even simple bois can’t process emotions lmao, doesn’t make him an absolute dumbass but I don’t disagree on the fact that he has 2 braincells 😂🙃 But she kept saying it everytime he was on screen lmao like let him breathe jeeezus 😂😂😂😂

[@nickspace19]

this is what i thought too!!

[@Bluey306]

cindy (lovingly) bullying paul for nearly half a hour 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@joe-hk5dn]

ikr like im sorry that not every main character isnt a multi talented, 160 iq, musician that reads 50 books a month lmaoo

[@lucy489]

Right?! His kindness and ability to connect with people in his own way is his intelligence/strength

[@cheesecakelasagna]

Also, I think him seeming "dumb" might be an allusion to how since studies have proven increased rates of brain hemorrhage from American Football, many white varsities are pulled out from the sport by their families because of this. Meanwhile black (and other POC) athletes stay because they believe it's their only way out of poverty and to good universities. This mindset also remains in poorer white families. Meaning I get a sense that not only is Paul born with set of questionable intellect, football also exacerbates it but he knows nothing outside of sports to keep for himself.

[@worm1186]

"what are you, belle from beauty and the beast? you think that just reading books gives you a personality?" shit, i didn't expect to get called out like that

[@kana1075]

"what if the student doesn't have any talent" oh sh** it felt like cindy was talking about me

[@kalijohnston561]

you sobbing while calling paul a stupid himbo was my EXACT experience watching this movie

[@withcindy]

i love that dummy!!!

[@thebusydragonfish9725]

Same here hahaha

[@AnimeCountDown]

“This was like me when I entered BookTube and made all the whites mad.” Let me tell you I WHEEZED and nearly choked on my goddamn lunch I laughed so hard

[@withcindy]

i live in their heads rent-free

[@luisaalmeida5138]

4:07 THE FACT THAT HE IS IN RIVERDALE BROKE ME

[@MK-mn1ef]

"If she's straight, don't worry, wait till she graduates art school. Then we fucking got her." I feel... So attacked

[@IreensBeans]

"If she's straight don't worry. Wait till she graduates art school" AS AN ART STUDENT I AM SCREAMING LMFAOOOO Okay still waiting to become lesbian but I have two more years

[@withcindy]

ill wait for u

[@Andi-mk7ud]

Praying for ur journey

[@musicalnerds101]

You can do it just stick with it!

[@gabgonzales4570]

"This is reverse colonialism, you gotta make your ancestors proud." That's my new life mantra right there

[@withcindy]

it should be everyones life motto

[@useroffline9999]

Yes

[@nayjashah7368]

Everyone literally saying Paul is so dumb but also falling for his cuteness, like we gotta protect that dumbo 🥺😭🤧💜

[@Ehreads]

I kept thinking she wasn’t charging enough the whole movie. She’s doing the lords work for these ppl and there’s a lot on the line for writing ppls essays. She’s worth way more than $10 for 3 pages

[@ohkay8939]

Also though: small town, small town pay, small town money going around and small town context for what constitutes fair pay :)

[@pinkbalm975]

The one dislike is the guy who looks like he’s from Riverdale.

[@withcindy]

i forgot about him already

[@cinnamonteeth]

This movie is really a beautiful take on love triangles and platonic love. Most movies just can’t seem to do love triangles properly... Also a huge win for Asian wlw! Let’s go

[@withcindy]

we love to see asian wlw!!!

[@0k0k0k0k]

at 16:19 i live for the fact that cindy is singing “i’m an asian lesbiaaaaan” into the cantaloupe on the fork like it’s some sort of microphone.

[@multidisaster6]

14:37 THE LOOK THE ASIAN DAD'S GIVING HIS KID IM HOLLERING HE'S LIKE WHY IS THERE A WHITE KID IN MY HOUSE

[@Parabatai93]

"Of course, is always the brunette girl reading a book in the corner, to make up for a lack of personality..." damn girl...did you have to come for me like that? 😟

[@pearlexquisite935]

I KNOW RIGHT

[@madhatter4129]

Lmao that's accuracte for films

[@ppgbubbles28]

I like how we all collectively bullied paul at the start and in the end, it turned into no one can bully paul but ellie AND us

[@withcindy]

YES!! precisely

[@crystalnguyen7087]

I did not know this was called “The Half of It” so I thought you were watching only half of the movie lmao.

[@LannasMissingLink]

"If she straight, just wait till she finishes art school" DANG I feel called OUT. Graduating as a bi this year

[@myname1304s]

The fact that this is such a wholesome and emotional movie......and cindy still found a way to make dirty jokes 😭

[@withcindy]

i cant rest unless i make a dirty joke every 5 minutes

[@cattd00]

Cindy doesn’t want us to know that she doesn’t actually have the emotional capacity of a frat boy.

[@helenwinter3320]

what i really liked about paul was, he *saw* Ellie, he took his time when everyone glanced over her, he listened to her and tried to understand her. And then he helped Ellie be seen by othwr people, her dad, her school at the talent show.. and he was there for her and stood up for her, he was so dumb yet so loyal and warm and accepting (more or less). i feel like i didn't appreciate him enough when i first saw this movie

[@aurorabalkanis]

I really loved the last scene when Paul runs after Ellie's train, I thought it was a really nice reversal of the trope 😭 I feel like the message I took away from this movie is that a soulmate doesn't have to be someone you end up in a romantic relationship, it can also be your friends who love and accept you for who you are ❤️❤️

[@withcindy]

EXACTLY!!! UGHHHH IM CRYING

[@bubbles4897]

Aida Salaman girl....you’re making me cry I

[@TeenTV1231]

really hope thats not gonna be my case except if its gonna be a frends with benefits type of friendship

[@vellichor]

I'm crying with laughter over all your himbo jokes, hE'S MY EMOTIONAL SUPPORT CHARACTER OKAY

[@withcindy]

i joke on him cuz i love him

[@disc0duck]

20:50 The Bechdel test joke was said by like three people at once in my family. I still can't tell whether it was intentional or not.

[@cheesecakelasagna]

I've been trying to seek platonic love stories and, damn, this is a good one. If anyone of ya'll want recs, watch *"Together Together"* it's about a middle-aged single guy who finally pursues his dream of raising a child so he tries to find a surrogate, and then friendship is born. Bonus tangential fact is that the actress (Patti Harrison) who played the surrogate is a transwoman (and she's a hilarious comedian in her own right). Normalize hiring transpeople in cis roles!

[@Kamomilla]

Moments I related to: "That's sooooo saphicccc" "He is like a dumb dog....." I really liked this movie. My sister didnt, but I think it's because she is young. I told her all of the three characters were lonely, and to me the whole thing about this movie is finding out you are not alone. Being seen and understood. It's not about romance or who will end up with who.

[@ericacardoso2301]

Yessssss! Couldn't have said it any better

[@Kirihere]

I didn't like it either :/ hmm

[@rie03Tayaku]

I guess the movie was too deep for your sissy to make sense of it

[@Kirihere]

@@rie03Tayaku honestly, it can be difficult to understand at times for quite a few people. There aren't a lot of big drama plot points which a lot of people are used to.

[@chelseaxoxo784]

@@rie03Tayaku hmmm. I didn't like it either but all these concepts are making me think