Okay, teenagers have raging hormones that don’t always allow them to think clearly. So maybe that’s why the plan of high school senior Alex (Nico Carney) to counter the perceived rumors that he and his best friend Ethan (Misha Osherovich) are gay sounds bonkers. His plan: to prove he is a heterosexual man, Alex decides one of them should pretend to come out as trans, oh wait, how about both of them coming out as trans because if they identify as women then they can also get into the girls’ locker room, which is the dream of every heterosexual male teen, right?

This may sound like the starting point of a cautionary right wing tale about the dangers of trans people using the bathroom or locker room that matches their chosen gender identity, but the surprise is that She’s the He is a disarming coming of age/coming out  teen comedy from trans-nonbinary director Siobhan McCarthy. They are willing to take on all tropes, stereotypes, and fears through a queer lens so that we can see this teen comedy with fresh eyes.

The silver lining to Alex’s ridiculous plan is that an all-girls party, Ethan realizes she IS trans and how comfortable and happy she feels in women’s clothing and in a female identity. The prank unexpectedly lets Ethan discover her true self.

McCarthy was apparently shooting and editing during the 2024 presidential campaign, during which anti-trans messaging and transphobia were sadly present, including specific fear mongering regarding trans kids in locker rooms. But rather than focus on the trauma and pain as a film like the gorgeous but heartbreaking I Saw the TV Glow, McCarthy wanted to make a film that centered on trans joy. And they succeeded.

The trailer for the film had a focus on the fact that trans people were playing trans people, and gay people were playing gay characters. I understand that the queer community feels not just marginalized by main stream media but also misrepresented and even vilified so a film that directly challenges that is worth celebrating. But the film is genuinely warm, funny, and good and I wish the entire trailer pushed that so maybe the film would get not just a queer audience hungry for that representation but also some mainstream filmgoers who just need to see a trans perspective on screen. And the film is really universal in its theme, and for anyone who has ever felt pressured to be someone they’re not and who just wants to be seen for who they feel they really are.

She’s the He does find trans joy but it does not ignore the potential challenges, pain and trauma that might also occur. McCarthy gives us a world where identity can be discussed, a parent can listen, and a person can announce they are trans and it is accepted, while simultaneously there can be a knowing acknowledgement of how crazy our current political and social environment is when it comes to queer issues, and how much of gender is just socially constructed.

In the press materials, McCarthy noted that narratives featuring characters with gender fluidity have long been popular whether it is in Shakespeare or classic Hollywood films like Billy Wilder’s Some Like If Hot. They cite movies such as She’s the Man, Clueless, and Mean Girls as particular inspirations for their film. And She’s the He follows a lot of the beats and formula of those mainstream teen comedies but with some fresh insights and turns.

McCarthy’s director’s statement revealed a desire to present a “gender-bending narrative” from a trans perspective and to foreground trans joy: “In a world where coming-out stories-let alone joyful ones-are still rare She’s the He is the movie I wish I had in high school and the movie I wish I could have shown my parents when I was coming out. By taking conservative talking points at face value and playing out their worst fears on screen. She’s the He seeks to undermine and defang these harmful ideas while satirizing the very media that has fueled this fear-mongering.”

“She’s the He” (opening June 19 at Digital Gym Cinema) is a funny, heartfelt, and charming comedy, and the perfect film to celebrate Pride month with because at this moment in time, joy is rebellion. And Misha Osherovich (who was also in the horror comedy Freaky) gives a winning performance as Ethan — sincere, poignant and still able to find humor.