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	\| story =		\| story =
	\| director = ]		\| director = ]
	\| starring = ]<br>Niko Terho<br>]<br>]<br>Peter Paige		\| starring = ]<br>]<br>]<br>]<br>Peter Paige
	\| narrated =		\| narrated =
	\| music = Timo Chen<br>Mateo Messina		\| music = Timo Chen<br>Mateo Messina
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	\| runtime = 85 minutes		\| runtime = 85 minutes
	\| company =		\| company =
	\| distributor = ]
	\| budget =		\| budget =
	\| network =		\| network = ]<br>]
	\| released = {{~~Film~~ date~~\|TV=y~~\|2020\|2\|15}}		\| released = {{Start date\|2020\|02\|15}}
	}}		}}
	'''''The Thing About Harry''''' is a 2020 American ] ].<ref>Erik Pedersen, . '']'', January 6, 2020.</ref> Written by ] and ] and directed by Paige,<ref name="variety" /> the film follows Sam (]), a young gay man who is reunited with his former high school bully Harry (Niko Terho) in adulthood, only for the two men to become friends and fall in love after Harry reveals that he now identifies as ].<ref name="enews">{{cite web \|first=Billy \|last=Nilles \|url=https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1122885/why-the-thing-about-harry-matters \|title=Why The Thing About Harry Matters \|work=E! News \|date=February 15, 2020 \|access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> The film also features ] and ], as well as Paige himself, in supporting roles.<ref>{{Cite web \|url=https://variety.com/2020/scene/news/the-thing-about-harry-on-lgbtq-representation-on-tv-1203502987/ \|title='The Thing About Harry' Team Talks LGBTQ Representation on TV for a New Generation \|website=] \|date=February 13, 2020 \|first=Breanna \|last=Bell}}</ref>		'''''The Thing About Harry''''' is a 2020 American ] ].<ref>Erik Pedersen, . '']'', January 6, 2020.</ref> Written by ] and ] and directed by Paige,<ref name="variety" /> the film follows Sam (]), a young gay man who is reunited with his former high school bully Harry (]) in adulthood, only for the two men to become friends and fall in love after Harry reveals that he now identifies as ].<ref name="enews">{{cite web \|first=Billy \|last=Nilles \|url=https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1122885/why-the-thing-about-harry-matters \|title=Why The Thing About Harry Matters \|work=E! News \|date=February 15, 2020 \|access-date=February 16, 2020}}</ref> The film also features ] and ], as well as Paige himself, in supporting roles.<ref>{{Cite web \|url=https://variety.com/2020/scene/news/the-thing-about-harry-on-lgbtq-representation-on-tv-1203502987/ \|title='The Thing About Harry' Team Talks LGBTQ Representation on TV for a New Generation \|website=] \|date=February 13, 2020 \|first=Breanna \|last=Bell}}</ref>

	The film premiered on February 15, 2020, on ] and ].<ref name="enews" /><ref>{{Cite web \|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/watch-the-thing-about-harry/ \|title=How to watch 'The Thing About Harry' \|date=2020-02-15 \|website=The Daily Dot \|access-date=2020-02-16}}</ref>		The film premiered on February 15, 2020, on ] and ].<ref name="enews" /><ref>{{Cite web \|url=https://www.dailydot.com/upstream/watch-the-thing-about-harry/ \|title=How to watch 'The Thing About Harry' \|date=2020-02-15 \|website=The Daily Dot \|access-date=2020-02-16}}</ref>
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	As a favor to a friend, Sam reluctantly begins a ] to his hometown with his high school bully Harry. During the trip Harry casually reveals himself to be pansexual, shocking Sam that they share a connection. However, upon arrival Harry ditches Sam to make up with his ex-girlfriend.		As a favor to a friend, Sam reluctantly begins a ] to his hometown with his high school bully Harry. During the trip Harry casually reveals himself to be pansexual, shocking Sam that they share a connection. However, upon arrival Harry ditches Sam to make up with his ex-girlfriend.

	A year later, Sam runs into Harry during a party, and he insults Harry by calling him a slut, despite his best friend Stasia pushing them together. Six months later, Sam is brought by his new boyfriend Paul to a bar trivia where he stumbles upon Harry and his roommate, Zach. Sam chooses Harry's answer to a trivia question over Paul's, causing Paul to leave and break up with him.		A year later, Sam runs into Harry during a party, and he drunkenly insults Harry by calling him a slut, despite his best friend Stasia pushing them together. Six months later, Sam is brought by his new boyfriend Paul to a bar trivia where he stumbles upon Harry and his roommate, Zach. Sam chooses Harry's (correct) answer to a trivia question over Paul's, causing Paul to leave and break up with him.

	Over the next few months, Sam and Harry grow closer as friends. During the ] celebration at a bar, Harry asks Sam whether the latter will consider dating him. Sam reiterates his stance against dating friends, and thereafter stumbles upon Harry making out with Stasia, the two of which then become a couple. At a brunch three months later, a drunk Sam insults Stasia and Harry by predicting their relationship won't last, after which he loses contact with both.		Over the next few months, Sam and Harry grow closer as friends. During the ] celebration at a bar, Harry asks Sam whether the latter will consider dating him. Sam reiterates his stance against dating friends, and thereafter stumbles upon Harry making out with Stasia, the two of which then become a couple. At a brunch three months later, a drunk Sam insults Stasia and Harry by predicting their relationship won't last, after which he loses contact with both.
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	* ] as Sam Baselli		* ] as Sam Baselli
	* Niko Terho as Harry Turpin		* ] as Harry Turpin
	* ] as Anastasia "Stasia" Hooper		* ] as Anastasia "Stasia" Hooper
	* Japhet Balaban as Zach		* Japhet Balaban as Zach
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	== Reception ==		== Reception ==
	The film received positive reviews for its classic execution of the rom-com genre with gay romantic interests, bringing the much needed normalization of queer relationships while not robbing it of its uniqueness.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://tvline.com/2020/02/10/the-thing-about-harry-review-freeform-gay-movie-valentine/\|title=The Thing About Harry Review: Freeform's Belated Gay Valentine Is Heartwarming, If Not Groundbreaking\|last=Mason\|first=Charlie\|date=2020-02-10\|website=TVLine\|language=en\|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> Jasmine Blu of TV Fanatic praised that the film "stuck to the classic rom-com formula, while still being thoughtful and aware enough not to swap out a hetero couple for a queer one and leave the entire film devoid of the LGBTQ perspective and culture."<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2020/02/the-thing-about-harry-review-a-quirky-cute-and-quietly-subversiv/\|title=The Thing About Harry Review: A Quirky, Cute, and Quietly Subversive Queer Rom-Com We Needed!\|last=Blu\|first=Jasmine\|date=2020-02-15\|website=TV Fanatic\|language=en\|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> Alex Reif praised the film for the chemistry exhibited by the main characters and the relatable tertiary characters.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/02/10/movie-review-the-thing-about-harry-freeform/\|title=Movie Review: "The Thing About Harry" (Freeform)\|date=2020-02-10\|website=LaughingPlace.com\|language=en-US\|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> Amari Allah concludes that the film presents positive representation of pansexuality while avoiding the common trauma theme in LGBT films, but noted its lack of diversity in casting.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://wherever-i-look.com/movies/the-thing-about-harry-2020-review-summary-with-spoilers\|title=The Thing About Harry (2020) - Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)\|last=Allah\|first=Amari\|date=2020-02-16\|website=Wherever I Look\|language=en-US\|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref>		The film received positive reviews for its classic execution of the rom-com genre with gay romantic interests, bringing the much needed normalization of queer relationships while not robbing it of its uniqueness.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://tvline.com/2020/02/10/the-thing-about-harry-review-freeform-gay-movie-valentine/\|title=The Thing About Harry Review: Freeform's Belated Gay Valentine Is Heartwarming, If Not Groundbreaking\|last=Mason\|first=Charlie\|date=2020-02-10\|website=TVLine\|language=en\|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> Jasmine Blu of TV Fanatic praised that the film "stuck to the classic rom-com formula, while still being thoughtful and aware enough not to swap out a hetero couple for a queer one and leave the entire film devoid of the LGBTQ perspective and culture."<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.tvfanatic.com/2020/02/the-thing-about-harry-review-a-quirky-cute-and-quietly-subversiv/\|title=The Thing About Harry Review: A Quirky, Cute, and Quietly Subversive Queer Rom-Com We Needed!\|last=Blu\|first=Jasmine\|date=2020-02-15\|website=TV Fanatic\|language=en\|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> Alex Reif praised the film for the chemistry exhibited by the main characters and the relatable tertiary characters.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://www.laughingplace.com/w/articles/2020/02/10/movie-review-the-thing-about-harry-freeform/\|title=Movie Review: "The Thing About Harry" (Freeform)\|date=2020-02-10\|website=LaughingPlace.com\|language=en-US\|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref> Amari Allah concludes that the film presents positive representation of pansexuality while avoiding the common trauma theme in LGBT films, but noted its lack of diversity in casting.<ref>{{Cite web\|url=https://wherever-i-look.com/movies/the-thing-about-harry-2020-review-summary-with-spoilers\|title=The Thing About Harry (2020) - Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)\|last=Allah\|first=Amari\|date=2020-02-16\|website=Wherever I Look\|language=en-US\|access-date=2020-03-05}}</ref>

			The film's premiere drew 181,000 viewers.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://showbuzzdaily.com/articles/showbuzzdailys-top-150-saturday-cable-originals-network-finals-2-15-2020.html\|title=UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY’s Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.15.2020\|first=Mitch\|last=Metcalf\|work=ShowBuzz Daily\|date=2020-02-19\|access-date=2024-09-13}}</ref>

	=== Accolades ===		=== Accolades ===
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Latest revision as of 01:12, 3 December 2024

2020 American romantic comedy television film

The Thing About Harry
Film poster
Screenplay by	Peter Paige Joshua Senter
Directed by	Peter Paige
Starring	Jake Borelli Niko Terho Britt Baron Karamo Brown Peter Paige
Music by	Timo Chen Mateo Messina
Country of origin	United States
Original language	English
Production
Producers	Roger M. Bobb F.J. Denny Greg Gugliotta Brett Hays Trey McMenamin Peter Paige
Running time	85 minutes
Original release
Network	Freeform Hulu
Release	February 15, 2020 (2020-02-15)

The Thing About Harry is a 2020 American romantic comedy television film. Written by Peter Paige and Josh Senter and directed by Paige, the film follows Sam (Jake Borelli), a young gay man who is reunited with his former high school bully Harry (Niko Terho) in adulthood, only for the two men to become friends and fall in love after Harry reveals that he now identifies as pansexual. The film also features Britt Baron and Karamo Brown, as well as Paige himself, in supporting roles.

The film premiered on February 15, 2020, on Freeform and Hulu.

Plot

As a favor to a friend, Sam reluctantly begins a road trip to his hometown with his high school bully Harry. During the trip Harry casually reveals himself to be pansexual, shocking Sam that they share a connection. However, upon arrival Harry ditches Sam to make up with his ex-girlfriend.

A year later, Sam runs into Harry during a party, and he drunkenly insults Harry by calling him a slut, despite his best friend Stasia pushing them together. Six months later, Sam is brought by his new boyfriend Paul to a bar trivia where he stumbles upon Harry and his roommate, Zach. Sam chooses Harry's (correct) answer to a trivia question over Paul's, causing Paul to leave and break up with him.

Over the next few months, Sam and Harry grow closer as friends. During the Chicago Pride celebration at a bar, Harry asks Sam whether the latter will consider dating him. Sam reiterates his stance against dating friends, and thereafter stumbles upon Harry making out with Stasia, the two of which then become a couple. At a brunch three months later, a drunk Sam insults Stasia and Harry by predicting their relationship won't last, after which he loses contact with both.

With encouragement from his roommate Casey, Sam begins finding dates using apps, which does not go well. A year later, Stasia reconnects with Sam and asks him to be the man of honor in her wedding to Zach, revealing that she broke up with Harry sometime ago. At the wedding, Sam finally makes up with Harry after the latter confesses his love, and they spend the night together. In the morning after, Harry reveals he is moving away in a week, causing Sam to storm out due to feelings of mistrust and betrayal.

With Sam again ignoring him, Harry accidentally sees on TV that Sam is working at a political rally. Determined to face him, Harry sneaks into the rally. Onstage, he apologizes to Sam and states that nothing is more important than staying together with him. A few years later, Sam and Harry are married and raising a child together.

Cast

Jake Borelli as Sam Baselli
Niko Terho as Harry Turpin
Britt Baron as Anastasia "Stasia" Hooper
Japhet Balaban as Zach
Karamo Brown as Paul
Peter Paige as Casey

Production

The movie was first sold by executive producers Greg Gugliotta and F.J. Denny to Freeform. The script was finalized in July 2019 and the production commenced in November the same year. Paige has stated that one of his goals in writing the movie was to make it reflective of the fact that young LGBT people conceptualize and label their sexual identities in more diverse ways than past generations; for instance Harry is pansexual, rather than gay or bisexual, because "the odds that two young, queer men under 25 both identify as gay feels slim to me in this generation."

Paige did not originally plan to appear in the film as Casey, but decided to play the role after being convinced that because 2020 marks 20 years since the premiere of Queer as Folk, there would be symbolic value in having the film contain a small tribute to his own performance as Emmett Honeycutt in that series.

The movie was shot in Chicago.

Reception

The film received positive reviews for its classic execution of the rom-com genre with gay romantic interests, bringing the much needed normalization of queer relationships while not robbing it of its uniqueness. Jasmine Blu of TV Fanatic praised that the film "stuck to the classic rom-com formula, while still being thoughtful and aware enough not to swap out a hetero couple for a queer one and leave the entire film devoid of the LGBTQ perspective and culture." Alex Reif praised the film for the chemistry exhibited by the main characters and the relatable tertiary characters. Amari Allah concludes that the film presents positive representation of pansexuality while avoiding the common trauma theme in LGBT films, but noted its lack of diversity in casting.

The film's premiere drew 181,000 viewers.

Accolades

The Thing About Harry was nominated for the 2021 GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie.

References

Erik Pedersen, "'The Thing About Harry': Freeform Casts & Sets Premiere Date For Road-Trip Valentine's Day Movie From 'Good Trouble' Director". Deadline Hollywood, January 6, 2020.
^ Turchiano, Danielle (February 14, 2020). "Peter Paige on Writing Titular The Thing About Harry Character as Pansexual". Variety. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
^ Nilles, Billy (February 15, 2020). "Why The Thing About Harry Matters". E! News. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
Bell, Breanna (February 13, 2020). "'The Thing About Harry' Team Talks LGBTQ Representation on TV for a New Generation". Variety.
"How to watch 'The Thing About Harry'". The Daily Dot. 2020-02-15. Retrieved 2020-02-16.
"'The Thing About Harry': Freeform Casts & Sets Premiere Date For Road-Trip Valentine's Day Movie From 'Good Trouble' Director". Toshiba Start. January 6, 2020. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
Mason, Charlie (2020-02-10). "The Thing About Harry Review: Freeform's Belated Gay Valentine Is Heartwarming, If Not Groundbreaking". TVLine. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
Blu, Jasmine (2020-02-15). "The Thing About Harry Review: A Quirky, Cute, and Quietly Subversive Queer Rom-Com We Needed!". TV Fanatic. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
"Movie Review: "The Thing About Harry" (Freeform)". LaughingPlace.com. 2020-02-10. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
Allah, Amari (2020-02-16). "The Thing About Harry (2020) - Review/ Summary (with Spoilers)". Wherever I Look. Retrieved 2020-03-05.
Metcalf, Mitch (2020-02-19). "UPDATED: SHOWBUZZDAILY's Top 150 Saturday Cable Originals & Network Finals: 2.15.2020". ShowBuzz Daily. Retrieved 2024-09-13.
Ramos, Dino-Ray (January 28, 2021). "GLAAD Unveils Nominees For 32nd Annual GLAAD Media Awards; Deadline's New Hollywood Podcast Honored With Special Recognition Award". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Media Corporation. Archived from the original on 2021-01-28. Retrieved January 29, 2021.

External links

Official website on Freeform
The Thing About Harry at IMDb
The Thing About Harry at Rotten Tomatoes

List of Freeform original films

The Family Channel

1996–1998	Night of the Twisters Panic in the Skies! Christmas Every Day The Angel of Pennsylvania Avenue Dog's Best Friend Married to a Stranger The Christmas List

Fox Family

1998–2001	National Lampoon's Men in White Addams Family Reunion Earthquake in New York Like Father, Like Santa Michael Jordan: An American Hero Don't Look Behind You Au Pair The Ghosts of Christmas Eve Britannic Ice Angel Time Share Special Delivery Au Pair II When Good Ghouls Go Bad Three Days

ABC Family

2002–2004	Mom's on Strike Just a Walk in the Park The One Beautiful Girl This Time Around Lucky 7 See Jane Date Picking Up & Dropping Off I Want to Marry Ryan Banks Celeste in the City Brave New Girl Love Rules! Crimes of Fashion Pop Rocks The Hollow Searching for David's Heart Snow
2005–2007	She Gets What She Wants School of Life I Do, They Don't Kart Racer Everything You Want Romy and Michele: In the Beginning Pizza My Heart Campus Confidential Rent Control Alchemy Shadows in the Sun Chasing Christmas Christmas in Boston If Only The Cutting Edge: Going for the Gold Hello Sister, Goodbye Life The Karate Dog Best Man, Worst Friend Fallen Relative Chaos The Initiation of Sarah Christmas Do-Over The Dukes of Hazzard: The Beginning Big Liar on Campus Nature of the Beast Christmas Caper Holiday in Handcuffs Snowglobe
2008–2010	The Cutting Edge: Chasing the Dream Princess The Circuit Picture This Samurai Girl Snow 2: Brain Freeze Christmas in Wonderland Au Pair 3: Adventure in Paradise My Fake Fiancé Labor Pains Santa Baby 2: Christmas Maybe The Dog Who Saved Christmas The Cutting Edge: Fire and Ice Beauty & the Briefcase Revenge of the Bridesmaids The Dog Who Saved Christmas Vacation Christmas Cupid
2011–2013	Mean Girls 2 My Future Boyfriend Cyberbully Teen Spirit Desperately Seeking Santa 12 Dates of Christmas Home Alone: The Holiday Heist The Mistle-Tones Lovestruck: The Musical Christmas Bounty Holidaze

Freeform

2016–2019	Life-Size 2 Angry Angel Ghosting: The Spirit of Christmas
2020–present	The Thing About Harry

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