Hal & Harper

Watched at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival.

Cooper Raiff created two movies that are some really smart and funny movies about men, relationships, and identity and this new upcoming series is Raiff's biggest project to date. For the first four episodes premiered at Sundance, Raiff still has a pretty good grip of what he explores on. Comedy, men, relationships, and bonds together in the nature settings. Unfortunately, unlike his previous works, I really didn't care much for this one.

Throughout, Raiff does apply some of his usual approaches and style with the themes, characters, and ideas. I do appreciate some of the themes Raiff was exploring but I found myself not really liking the characters, as unlike being funny and interesting, I mostly found the characters to be kind of boring and at times, unbearable. Almost as if they were annoying and filled with narcissism that makes them uninteresting.

With some of the pacing being off, the uses of cliches on the writing and tone makes it more unrealistic. Including some certain choices on the designs and portray being a bit weird that doesn't fully work. The performances of the cast are solid as everyone gives good emotions and expresses. But Raiff seems to kind of stretch out the narrative with moments that felt a bit overlong and overbearing.

Even though this is only four episodes and not completed, I personally found myself feeling as if this could have been another movie and it would probably be better than a show. Don't get me wrong, I like Raiff and I wish him very well with his newfound career and works. I love to see him keep going but this one just wasn't for me.

They say "holding hands is more important than crashing," and in Cooper Raiff's messy, saccharine, beautiful, and self-aware series, "Hal & Harper"-less a show and more a feeling-you'll get a raw, bittersweet taste of just how true that is, delivered by characters stripped of their halos and laid bare.

Before you dive in, abandon all pathetic, cynical quips. Unless your spirit is forged of an emotionally fortified brick wall, utterly incapable of unleashing even a whimper of raw feeling, then maybe hit that 'off' button. Otherwise, prepare to be gently, almost imperceptibly, lured into this maelstrom, as Cooper Raiff's brand of bittersweetness CHA-CHA SMOOTHS right over ya.

Character Dives 1. Hal's Heart: Cooper Raiff, as Hal, injects a refreshing dose of himself-and maybe a bit of us-into the familiar indie film archetype. He's the ever-present brother, the one sneaking in windows late at night, a constant, comforting, and yes, sometimes annoying, force. It's a sweet subversion of the usual sister-for-brother dynamic. He'll grill Harper about her phone calls, a move some might call "overprotective" or "butthurt snob." But honestly, who gives a damn in this cynical world?

2. Ruffalo's Raw Grief: Mark Ruffalo is laid utterly bare as the single, grief-stricken, and adrift dad. Words offer no solace; he's clinging to Nietzsche's abyss. While some find shower time a happy, weird moment of solitude, for Ruffalo's character, it's mostly a pissed-off grief, anxious contemplation, and memories. Sure, he even has sex in the shower-"SAFE" sex with a hooker-but it's still undeniably sad. You'll feel a pang of pity, but mostly, you'll just want to give the guy a hug, especially after Episode 6, where his grief is a visceral echo, a second skin.

3. Harper's Heartbreak: Lili Reinhart's as Harper is a perennial misfit, a "slimeball" at times, yet with a fragile heart buried deep. Her dad and brother's names rightly top her "FAVORITES" contacts. She's constantly trying to re-thread herself back into the family fabric, lost, even seeking connection on Facebook. Like any normal human, she finds her own bathroom solitude, doing her "usual thing" (haha, masturbating). With sapphic relationships brewing, she also carries immense grief, often feeling lost. There are exquisitely beautiful, fragmented moments, like her imagining her baby brother in the bathtub-subtle, dreamlike cuts to a past that reveal memory as a fluid, unpredictable beast.

Not A Spoiler: Luckily, Hal (Cooper Raiff) is spared any bathroom-based existential ponderings. My theory? He'd be too busy, like normal guys do, either "self-caring with his pecker," frantically brainstorming his next big idea, doomscrolling for a troll fight, or verbally sparring with a pretentious arthouse snob. LOL.

And, it was genuinely funny when Hal, bruised from seeing his Asian chick with another guy, picks a fight and gets beaten. Oh, and I absolutely loved the "Elephant Man" reference. Of course, RIP David Lynch-I hope he's enjoying cherry pie and damn fine coffee wherever he is.

Another favorite cinematic nod is Cooper's desperate attempt at a "Mission Impossible" movie night with family, only to have Ruffalo and Betty Gilpin doze off and Lili Reinhart look utterly bored. Cooper's raw, unadulterated reaction is precisely mine; seriously, even my recent F1 marathon had me feeling the exact same way.

And now, the literary nods: from Gabriel García Márquez's "One Hundred Years of Solitude" (seriously, read it if you love books, or check out the Netflix adaptation) to a sharp Sylvia Plath name-drop between Hal and Harper. Nothing says sibling intimacy like shared existential dread and a dash of literary flair.

Another kudos: the episodes just start. No time for picturesque setups; it throws you straight into the thick of it, just immediate, unvarnished momentum. The sound design is expertly amplified too, a keen choice by Raiff.

Now, about the "School stuff": While the unconventional casting of Raiff and Lili Reinhart cosplaying and living as kids, instead of opting for a traditional age-appropriate approach, might be "cringe" for some, Raiff somehow makes it cool. He avoids typical Hollywood kid clichés and even finds magic in some school conversations with other kids. He ditches flashy timelines and big budgets for raw honesty, avoiding to MILK the "I WAS THERE, I FEEL SEEN" pandering.

The Downside: Some folks will get that "OMG FEELING" of a tidy full circle in the last two episodes. I felt they wasted too much time, particularly the detour at the Indian friend's house, and the music was a bit of overkill. The non-linear storytelling is its strength and its slight downfall, sometimes strangling itself with its own cleverness. I personally enjoyed the approach and the editing, but a bittersweet ending would have been preferable to the Hollywood "TADA, Baby!" and the other overly convenient "fate" coincidences.

Nevertheless, this series might not be for everyone, but it's largely impressive as is. Even by indie standards, I highly recommend giving it a watch! There's genuinely something for everyone to love, including some great gags. I particularly enjoyed the writing at Hal's friend's granny's funeral-though I was definitely hoping for more gallows humor! I'm really excited to see what Cooper Raiff does next.

Hypnotised by the strong visual language and creative story structure about young adult siblings living on fragmented memories of a mother who abandon them at an early age, leaving their bipolar father to bring them up. The story picks up with surprising news from their father (another brilliant performance by Mark Ruffalo) that unconsciously triggers the dominos to fall, as each one struggles to deal with their own dilemma, but also attempting to be there for each other. Creator, Cooper Raiff, not only plays Hal, but wrote and directed this powerful series of a fractured family unit dealing with the dismantled past while rebuilding a blurry future...

Hal & Harper isn't just a show-it's an experience. From the very first episode, I felt pulled into a deeply personal and emotional world. The series blends memory, trauma, and reality in a way that's both poetic and haunting. The transitions between scenes and timelines are executed with such precision and feeling, it's like watching thought and emotion unfold on screen.

The dialogue is a highlight-raw, honest, and beautifully vulnerable. It's rare to find writing that feels this real. I felt seen, understood, and strangely comforted by the characters' openness. Harper's arc especially resonated with me-her longing, her silence, and her need for safety are portrayed with stunning depth.

The visual symbolism, like the scenes of adult Harper and Hal attending school, spoke volumes about grief and emotional stagnation. It's subtle, but incredibly powerful once you catch it.

In short, this show doesn't just tell a story-it feels it. Hal & Harper is for anyone who loves introspective, emotionally layered storytelling. It stays with you long after it ends.

Really uninteresting "day in an average life" series. It's not exciting. Not extraordinary. Not special in any way. Theres no "unusual aspect" to anything. It's ordinary scenes about ordinary topics. There's no "there there".

I found little humor.. and very little to engage a viewer.

Is Hal supposed to be "on the spectrum"? If not.. seems like he may be. Really puzzling thing is ...why are two grown adults attending 3rd grade???

The story is "all over the place" and so fractured each of the independent storylines for these family members fails to garner much interest.

The entire series appears to be predicated on one line of dialog "you had to grown up too fast." It bounces back and forth between timeframes.. and none of it is comes together in a cohesive manner.

All the acting is good.. Not a real fan of the abundant "emo" music soundtrack.. but the story.. the story just isn't there.

Even after the finale I'm left wondering.. why did I waste my time??? There's no payoff, no ending one can't predict. Absolutely nothing unexpected.

There's just no reason to watch this series.