In The Heights

 By Ephraim Belnap

Directed by: Jon M. Chu

Starring: Anthony Ramos, Jimmy Smits, Melissa Barrera, Lin-Manuel Miranda

Released: June 10 2021

4 Out Of 5 

    “The streets were alive with music in Washington Heights,” claims our narrator, the mustachio’d hero Usnavi (Anthony Ramos). And he’s not wrong about that. Set in Manhattan’s famously Latino neighborhood, In The Heights is an energetic adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name, bursting at the seams with rhythm and character. Directed by Jon M. Chu (director of Crazy Rich Asians) and co-produced and co-starring its writer and original star Lin-Manuel Miranda (the creator of musical phenomenon Hamilton), the ten-time-Tony-nominated musical is finally brought to the big screen. For fans of Hamilton, it's another example of a wonderful style. For fans of Crazy Rich Asians, it's another chance to sample American diaspora. And for fans of the original musical such as yours truly, it's a chance to relive some truly awesome music.

Our hero Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) watches a dance unfold from inside his shop

    Usnavi is a simple bodega owner; he goes to work, keeps his cousin Sonny in line, and dreams of opening a beachfront bar, El Sueñito (The Little Dream). Narrating the tales of the neighborhood, from the gossipy hair saloon girls to the Stanford hopeful Nina, Usnavi takes us over the course of three spectacular days in Washington Heights.

    In The Heights is mostly famous for its dynamic musical style. Instead of drawn-out ballads and warbling lips, most lyrics are rapped. Salsa, hip-hop, rap, and yes a little classic musical co-exist in a modern mix, making something more intense and enjoyable than a conventional approach. Similarly, it's about a diverse community; the New Yorker mix of Caribbean Islanders who have come to call the city home. Cuba, Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, and more are "on display", as they belt in the opening number. The unique struggles of immigration - education, assimilation, and financial liberation - are all dramatized across the film's cast. Usnavi's own dream - to return to his parents' homeland to fulfill their ambitions - both occupies the story and serves as support for others. And the film comes to a rousing conclusion celebrating the best of this experience. 

Taxi dispatcher Benny (Corey Hawkins) and college student Nina (Leslie Grace) share a moment

    In The Heights is a good film. The spirit of the original is intact. The characters are charming. The city - a lot of which was actually filmed on location - looks authentic. The show-stopping numbers - "96,000" especially, will have you jumping - are wonderful. And the choreography, channeling the best of Broadway and the best of Latin America, is a delight. But it's not quite perfect. 

Benny, Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV) and Usnavi at the bodega

    Adaptations are rarely perfect, of course, but that doesn't change the reality. The plot can feel saccharine at times, a little too eager to play to cute sensibilities. The characters can feel rushed or repetitive, and one or two plot points are poorly brought to light. The biggest victim is probably the editing, which can jump between continuity and montage a little too much sometimes. The confusion this causes can't be understated. It takes this from a peerless film to merely a great film. But as any fan of the original will tell you, the heart is still there.  

Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) and Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) dance

    In The Heights is a triumph. For those familiar with the immigrant struggle, it's validating. For those unfamiliar, it's educational. As a piece of Americana, it's more entertaining, fun, and dense than most of its peers. And it captures the magic of Broadway with a sleek, modern touch that anyone can access. Four Out Of Five.

In The Heights is showing in theaters now and available to steam on HBO Max until July 12