She's the He

She’s the He might not be the funniest or most fearless film about trans identity to find fans this year. But it understands that while queerness isn’t contagious, hope is.

In 82 compact minutes, the writer-director navigates this brilliant idea with ease, ridiculing the ridiculous right-wing moral panic called “the bathroom scare” by showing its actual silliness at face value.

McCarthy’s direction is assured and lively, so clearly a homage to the films, like “She’s the Man,” that inspired this one. Some flaws, such as actors past their teenage years that would never pass as high school students, just feel like part of the movie’s detachment from reality.

The film often strikes the right balance between loony satire and heartfelt commentary.