It’s common knowledge that John Early is a comedic actor. His debut feature, Maddie’s Secret, sees him behind the lens and on the screen, but dressing as a woman. Not in the way that Tyler Perry does, but in a bold, singular manner to discuss a woman’s navigation through her eating disorder. It’s a perfectly toned Almodovar-like dramedy with a balance of satire on LA media culture and a John Hughes riff on One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest, shot like a telenovela. The film follows Maddie (Early), a dishwasher at a food content creation company, who rises in her field when one of her chilli videos goes viral. But she holds a secret unbeknownst to everyone, including her lesbian best friend (Kate Berlant in a dazzling showcase of range) and her husband (Eric Rahill): she has bulimia. At first, you think it’s a joke as Early cast himself as the lead of his project. As the film progresses, the reason behind his casting and the thematic story of trauma, perfectionism, and the link to her eating disorder underscores a thoughtful character portrait. Well-paced, deeply emotional, and delightfully funny on many occasions, Maddie’s Secret is one of the best surprises you’ll be lucky to find next year.