"She's the He" is a high school drama with a unique twist. Two cisgender boys pretend to be transgender to gain entry into the girls' locker room, a scheme led by a mischievous plotter, Alex, and his shy best friend, Ethan, who later comes to realize she is truly transgender.
The movie breaks Hollywood norms on various levels. Firstly, it features trans and non-binary actors playing ostensibly cisgender characters pretending to be trans, essentially presenting a fun twist on LGBTQ+ storytelling traditionally left out of teen comedies and coming-of-age high school tales.
Setting in a largely queer-accepting school, the teen duo comes under homophobic mockery from the school's football team. To evade this judgment, Alex conceives a dual-purpose plan – not only to bypass the "gay" label but to get closer to his crush, Sasha.
Against transphobic fearmongering themes, "She's the He" provides a realistic representation of acceptance, albeit with a touch of overzealous enthusiasm. Alex's deception isn't entirely convincing, but this space of questioning allows Ethan to explore her own gender identity, with Tatiana Ringsby's nonbinary tech wiz, Forest, playing a beautiful role in Ethan's discovery of her transgender identity.
Part of the film's appeal is its focus on character development, achieved through quick, witty exchanges and personal contemplation. While the aesthetics of the film are simple, they perfectly complement its primarily dialogue-based humor. Furthermore, the movie allows Ethan some quiet moments to silently grapple with her emerging identity and how to reveal it to her mother.
"She's the He" gives a powerful representation of teenage dysphoria and the fears common to the transgender experience through these bedroom community narratives. Alex, enthusiastically portrayed by Carney, gives a satirical yet sympathetic take on teen masculinity and overcompensation.
As the film moves towards its conclusion, it presents a satirical critique towards cis boys trying to infiltrate women's spaces, rejecting the notion that transgender women in public areas pose a threat. The narrative remains anchored in the evolving dynamic between Alex and his newly-out transgender best friend, Ethan, showcasing their individual growth and the strengthening of their bond.
