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In the Heights
(Warner Bros. Pictures)
By Lucas Allen
Last year, Lin-Manuel Miranda treated fans to a virtual Broadway show when his megahit “Hamilton” bowed on Disney+. This year, he’s given us a different kind of musical experience on the big screen with the adaptation of his 2005 musical “In the Heights.” Though pre-Hamilton, the Tony-award winning hit carries the similar combination of hip-hop and R&B that is part of Miranda’s signature style, which made him the new voice of Broadway. For the film version, bringing the story from the stage to the screen falls to director John M. Chu from both the “Step Up” series and “Crazy Rich Asians.”
The movie takes place over several days during one hot summer in the neighboring part of New York’s Washington Heights. The main character is Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), a young store owner who dreams of moving to the Dominican Republic to inherit his late father’s bar. At the same time, he looks over the old and kindly Ms. Claudia (Olga Merediz), while making sure his younger coworker Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV) has a bright future. Meanwhile, Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), whom Usnavi pines for, wants to leave her job at a salon to be a fashion designer. Her dreams seem dashed, not helped, by her gossiping co-stylists Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega), Carla (Stephanie Beatriz) and Cuca (Dascha Polanco). Nina (Leslie Grace) returns after spending a year in Stafford, but doesn’t have the courage to tell her father Kevin (Jimmy Smits) that she’s dropping out for her own reasons. However, Benny (Corey Hawkins) who also works at Kevin’s dispatch encourages her to believe in what she can do. These paths soon intertwine during a neighborhood blackout that will rock all their lives.
Chu certainly understands Miranda’s vision as the director uses the camera and filmmaking techniques to turn a stage musical into a visual splendor. Having the actors and dancers perform on set as well as using some colorful cinematography to enhance the scenes and give each musical number a wonderfully vibrant feel. Much like in “Hamilton,” the hip-hop rhyming brings a special style to the dialogue as well as advancing the story. Even for non-musical fans, there’s enough moments of joy that’ll get you foot-tapping in your seats.
But if you strip away the songs and visuals from the film, the story is just the standard coming-of-age drama you’ve already seen a bunch of times. Following your dreams and knowing where you truly belong are universal themes that resonate with audiences of all ages, but the movie would’ve been dull and stale had it not been for the talent in front and behind the camera. There’s also a period of sadness that drags the film a little bit though it never loses its momentum through the finale.
Like before, Miranda proves to be the driving force behind the amazing music plus his entertaining small role of the piragua-selling Piraguero. All the young actors bring their believability in their acting and singing to their performances and made the musical sequences amazing. Fans of “NYPD Blue” will doubtless be surprised by Smits’ singing and dancing as well as his dramatic supporting role.
“In the Heights” is one of the most happy-go-lucky experiences for everyone looking forward to getting back to theaters. If “Hamilton” gave you a reason to lift your spirits during last year, this movie has all the right ingredients for a relaxing summer.
THE MOVIE’S RATING: PG-13 (for some language and suggestive references)
THE CRITIC’S RATING: 3.5 Stars (Out of Four)
