The Half Of It: 20 Best Quotes In The Netflix Movie, Ranked

Netflix’s catalog of media is becoming increasingly diverse and representative, particularly when it comes to LGBT+ representation. Its recent original movie The Half of It is one of many in an ever-growing line-up of queer teen content on the streaming service.

The movie shares the quirky humor of the popular To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before but takes it to a small, religious town — and with an LGBTQ+ leading lady. These small differences become key distinctions from other Netflix teen movies and allow for some memorable quotes for viewers to take with them.

Updated on February 23rd, 2021 by Svetlana Sterlin: The Half Of It is easily one of the best young adult films of 2020. Its unique charm and sense of humor struck a chord with many viewers young and old. Ellie Chu’s story is an endearing one, with a beautiful visual aesthetic and a sweet message at the heart of it. The teen drama is particularly loved for its memorable dialogue and touching voiceover narration. Here are ten additional quotes from the movie for fans to cherish and be inspired by.

20 “Get A Thesaurus, Use Spellcheck. Good Luck, Romeo!”

Like any hero, Ellie initially declines her call to adventure. In fact, she declines it adamantly and repeatedly. Paul asks to help her write a love letter to the girl that Ellie likes. Paul also isn’t the kind of person Ellie would normally hang out with; in fact, she doesn’t normally hang out with anyone, being the studious introvert that she is.

Her response to Paul’s pleas is to simply use spellcheck as any other person would. Of course, Paul doesn’t give up that easily, and Ellie eventually acquiesces and helps him. Although, it’s important to note that she doesn’t accept his monetary payment.

19 “Conversation Is Like Ping-Pong.”

Paul tries to get some tips from Ellie about how to approach Aster. Ellie quickly sees that Paul isn’t a great conversationalist. He just says whatever comes to mind and doesn’t ask questions or listen to the other person.

While Ellie mentors him, the two of them become close friends and pick up some of each other’s habits and hobbies. One of these is ping-pong, which Ellie uses as a metaphor to describe how a conversation should be. The game itself is a metaphor since Paul keeps hitting the ball way too hard or missing shots.

18 “I Am A Russian Doll Of Clothing.”

Ellie seems very closed off and socially awkward, and she’s certainly introverted, but sometimes she says something like this, which reminds viewers how witty and good-natured she is.

She is a modest character, which is demonstrated by her many layers of clothing, but this also reflects the many layers of her personality, and how most of them are hidden from view.

17 “She’s Pretty, Smart, Never Mean. And She Smells Like Fresh Ground Flour!”

When asked what exactly it is he loves about Aster, and why he’s in love with her, Paul can only come up with a simple, run-of-the-mill response: “She’s pretty, smart, never mean. And she smells like fresh ground flour!”

Obviously, it doesn’t sound like he’s talking about real love here, and Ellie is quick to point this out. Still, Paul remains adamant that he is in love with Aster, and he won’t give up until Ellie at least helps him try to talk to her.

16 “I Always Thought That There Was Only One Way To Love. One Right Way.”

Paul doesn’t realize that Ellie likes Aster for a long time, and when he does, he feels betrayed. He’s sure that Ellie likes him, and he’s hurt that she doesn’t reciprocate his feelings. This, along with his traditional upbringing, sadly repulses him.

He can’t accept Ellie’s attraction to Aster for a long time, but when he eventually comes around, he realizes that he was in the wrong. He apologizes to Ellie and voices his support for her in front of the entire church.

15 “How Her Eyes Look Right Into Yours. How You Could Live In An Ocean Of Her Thoughts.”

Paul believes that he knows exactly what love is, but Ellie is a bit skeptical. She thinks he’s just stubborn, and she tells him what “real love” is, despite never having felt it herself.

However, as she rattles off all of the nice things about Aster, she gets a bit carried away and reveals herself. Paul is too self-absorbed to notice, but now Ellie is more conscious of her feelings towards Aster.

14 “I Think About Her When I Wake Up. And When I’m Doing My Sprints.”

When Paul first goes to Ellie for help, she asks him why he wants to write her a letter so badly. Really, she’s trying to determine whether or not Paul is actually in love with Aster.

“I think about her when I wake up,” he explains. “And when I’m doing my sprints. And when I’m eating my mom’s bratwurst, and when I’m saying my prayers.” Ellie rolls her eyes, realizing that he’s only infatuated, not in love.

13 “And That, My Friends, Is Some A-Plus Level Philosophy Right There.”

The film opens with a voiceover monolog from Ellie as she explains the theory of the two halves of a human’s soul. At the end, she wraps up with a wry comment: “And that, my friends, is some A-plus level philosophy right there. Or A-minus if Mrs. G is in a bad mood. Either way, it’s an A or you don’t pay.”

At school, Ellie uses her smarts to make some cash. Her teacher is well aware of the fact that most of her students aren’t actually writing their own papers; Ellie is doing it for them. However, Mrs. G seems to be okay with Ellie helping them cheat.

12 “Shh; Best Part.”

This is something Ellie’s dad says to her whenever they are sitting down watching a movie together. Ellie later shares that her mother believed there is a best part of everything, including movies and songs.

When Ellie’s dad intervenes and makes Ellie pay attention to the movie, he is honoring his wife’s memory and valuing what he sees as the best of things. This is a nice, poignant touch that reveals a little more of Mr. Chu’s character.

11 “The Good Thing About Being Different Is That No One Expects You To Be Like Them.”

Ellie feels a bit like an outcast in her small hometown of Squahamish. She isn’t like other people and doesn’t conform to the ways that they live or the expected social etiquette of being a teenager.

This can have its benefits because, as she points out, nobody expects her to fit in. She feels sorry for Aster because she feels obligated to be like and liked by everyone else.

10 “If You Ask Me, People Spend Far Too Much Time Looking For Someone To Complete Them.”

This is something that Ellie ponders as her voiceover opens the film. She is inexperienced in the romance department and feels quite cynical about it, but still decides that people are too focused on finding their perfect half when they need to be their own whole first.

She wonders how many of them ever do find what they suppose to be their other half, and out of those who do, how many of them make it last. She remains quite pessimistic about romance for most of the film.

9 “In Case You Haven’t Guessed, This Is Not A Love Story. At Least Not One Where Anyone Gets What They Want.”

The film opens with a memorable voiceover monologue from Ellie. She introduces the themes of the story, talking about halves and souls and romance, and how she doesn’t really believe in any of it.

She makes sure to tell viewers that this isn’t going to be a love story — even though it kind of is. Then she spoils the plot by telling the audience that nobody gets what they want. Still, the story is emotionally investing enough that it works, anyway.

8 “When You’re A Pretty Girl, People Want To Give You Things. What They Really Want Is To Make You Like Them.”

Aster reveals that she faces some difficulties being pretty, which makes her seem conceited and self-absorbed, but her feelings are still valid. She doesn’t want to continue living in a persona that someone else her created for her.

In one scene, a group of girls in identical outfits give her a scarf, which they expect her to like and wear. Because she’s so popular, they want to be associated with her. Aster insists that nobody cares if she likes who they are, but they want her to be the same as them.

7 “It Would Suck To Have To Pretend To Be Not You Your Whole Life.”

Paul sometimes makes wise observations, even though he’s usually goofy and oblivious. This particular instance ties into Ellie’s experience as a gay person in a small, religious town where being gay is considered a sin.

Paul is at first upset at realizing the truth about Ellie, but eventually, his care for her overpowers his prejudice. He comes to feel compassion towards her and expresses his support. He realizes how hard it must have been for her to pretend to be someone else.

6 “Gravity Is Matter’s Response To Loneliness.”

Aster and Ellie are lying in the water in what must be the film’s most iconic scene, uninhibited and at peace. Ellie quietly says, “Gravity is matter’s response to loneliness.” Aster asks her whose quote that is, and Ellie says she doesn’t know.

“Then, you said it,” Aster decides. The words themselves are beautiful and gentle, like most of the film is. It signifies how lonely Ellie often feels, and how she longs to be tethered to something or someone that would keep her company. It’s also a bit of a meta moment because director Alice Wu doesn’t herself remember whose quote it is.

5 “… The Difference Between A Good Painting And A Great Painting Is Typically Five Strokes … The Question, Of Course, Is Which Five Strokes?

One of the key bonding experiences in Ellie and Aster’s relationship is their painting of bold strokes. Aster tells Ellie — thinking it’s Paul — that she once had a painting teacher who told her about the five strokes.

“And they’re usually the five boldest strokes in the painting. But nobody ever knows which five strokes, at least not until the painting is complete — and by then, it could be too late.”

4 “Love Is Being Willing To Ruin A Good Painting For A Chance At A Great One.”

This metaphor surfaces at various times throughout the film. The first time it’s mentioned is during a conversation where Ellie is texting Aster about art, and Aster mentions the importance of the five boldest strokes of a painting.

A painting can be good, but if their last stroke is too bold, the piece could be ruined. On the other hand, the bold stroke could be a good one. This analogy, therefore, suggests that one shouldn’t settle for less out of fear.

3 “I’m Like A Lot Of People, Which Makes Me Kind Of No One.”

Aster reveals the not-so-pleasant parts of her life when it comes to being popular. She is a conventionally pretty girl, which automatically makes her liked — or rather, desired.

This makes it easy for her to fit in and be accepted, but it also means that she blends in with all of the other people who are accepted, never standing out for her own qualities. As she mentions, people always give her things, which makes her a bit like all of them.

2 “Love Is Messy And Horrible And Selfish And Bold.”

In the pivotal scene of the movie, Ellie takes the famous phrase, “Love is kind,” and turns it on its head. She emphasizes the messiness of love and that sometimes, it can be difficult.

But she doesn’t use these qualities to put love in a negative light, as she would have at the start of the movie. Instead, she says these things because she believes in the importance of love, but also the need to approach it honestly.

1 “[Love’s] Not Finding Your Perfect Half.”

The movie begins with an animated tale about a two-headed creature, which Ellie explains relates to ancient mythology. The creature is torn in two, destined to spend its life seeking its other half – its soulmate.

This story is the root of Ellie’s bitterness about love, and by the end of the movie she has broken it down and come to her own understanding of what love is, and the fact that it’s different for everybody.