She’s The He is a frothy, candy-colored gender identity comedy from writer director Siobhan McCarthy that follows Ethan (Misha Osherovich) and Alex (Nico Carney,) two high school seniors on the cusp of graduation. Ethan is the quiet, self conscious worrier while Alex is the typical horny teen who will stop at nothing in his pursuit of the ladies. As these two besties face a major transition Ethan is hiding a deep secret. He identifies as a trans female. Against the zany backdrop of a lite teen comedy, McCarthy crafts a congenial farce that is far more effective in its message than it is in delivery.
The scheme is simple. Amidst the hyper-inclusive atmosphere at their particular school, libido-driven Alex suggests that he and his buddy Ethan claim to be trans females. The goal is to gain access to the girl’s locker room to sneak a peek. With graduation days away, the social ramifications are like next to nothing. The charade begins and Alex is like a kid in a candy store with unfettered access to his obsession. This ruse, however, has pushed Ethan to confront her true identity.
The usual teen-com scenes are here, just with a new message. Sasha (Malia Pyles) is the girl that Alex is after, but she is too smart to fall for his buffoonery. Instead she invites Alex and Ethan to an all girls party where she picks up on the real story. We still have the classic element of the ignorant brutish boys that cause trouble with Jacob (Emmett Preciado) and Brent (Kyle Butenhoff) jumping at any chance to assert their masculine, tone-deaf energy. But McCarthy is careful to keep things light. The antics are removed of hate and identity shaming in favor of whacky, lighthearted fun. Will Alex ever get to kiss Sasha? Will Ethan ever be able to live as her true identity? Will the boys ever stop being annoying?
She’s The He lives in a world of acceptance and inclusion while still using high school politics and tribalism for comedic effect. McCarthy‘s script does an admirable job updating the classic tropes with a modern perspective but something still seems so idealistic. It’s hard to resist though when you are rooting for such a likable lead. Osherovich is a joy to watch as the confused Ethan. Her very real, at times honest moments bring things back to the emotional center nicely. Carney‘s Alex is inexhaustibly energetic as Ethan’s buddy. I would like to know what the Red Bull budget was on this film.
I was far more excited to see a film like She’s The He being made than I was to see the film itself. The story is predictable, the comedy is merely adequate, and some of the actors are hardly believable as high school students. But here we are with a feature film that handles gender identity like any other major transition in life. McCarthy tells a story of self discovery that points to a hopeful future rather than a tragic tale of woe. This is an enthusiastically made film from an important voice.
She’s The He isn’t great, but it’s a beautiful light at the end of a long tunnel.
She’s The He – 6/10
