With Dear Evan Hansen and Everybody’s Talking About Jamie upcoming, 2021 may just be the year of the musical and In the Heights, directed by Jon M. Chu, ushers in a fabulously strong start to the summer movie experience. The film, based on the Broadway play by Lin-Manuel Miranda (who wrote the music and lyrics) and Quiara Alegría Hudes (who wrote the book and the film’s screenplay), is an enchanting, lively, and magnetic musical adaptation. With an outstanding cast and compelling themes, In the Heights soars, bringing emotional beats together in a celebration of culture and community.
Set in New York City’s Washington Heights, the story follows Usnavi de la Vega (Anthony Ramos), a bodega owner who dreams of returning to the Dominican Republic to fulfill the dreams of his father and is encouraged by his Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz), the neighborhood’s beloved grandmother who is always buying lottery tickets in the hopes she will win someday. His best friend Benny (Corey Hawkins) works at the local dispatch company owned by Kevin Rosario (Jimmy Smits), the father of Nina (Leslie Grace), who has just returned from Stanford and is not looking forward to breaking the news about her decision. Meanwhile, Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) is a budding fashion designer who believes she needs to move downtown to catch her big break, but struggles with finding a place to rent. The musical’s events take place over the course of several days in the midst of a summer heat wave, with each of the characters grappling with the next big steps in their lives and what their decisions mean for their futures.
In the Heights is a rapturous celebration of the Latinx community. The film’s New York City setting is incredibly well utilized — the streets, the bodega, the public pool, the subway, and the interior rooms are all used in ways that not only elevate the story, but turn Washington Heights into an additional character. This is how cities should be employed in any story and it makes the musical all the better for it, effectively capturing the essence of the location and its diverse population. Each and every scene is also brimming with a contagious spirit, one that will make viewers want to dance along to the songs. From “96,000,” a number that implements all the characters and hundreds of extras dancing in and around the pool, to “Carnaval Del Barrio,” a sizzling neighborhood party starter (and one of the best scenes in the film), the music and lyrics work to tell the story of the characters, their journeys, and the block they call home with zeal.
The songs and story beats bring laughter and tears, with the film balancing the highs and lows of the characters’ journeys. In the Heights is deeply sentimental, with the warmth and love of the characters enveloping even the most tension-fueled moments. It’s the strength of the characters’ relationships and the deep sense of community that makes this film all the more powerful, with emotional beats that pull at the heart strings and tender romantic sequences that are enchanting and lovely, elevated even more thanks to the actors’ chemistry (this is especially true of Corey Hawkins and Leslie Grace). The musical buzzes with energy, captivating audiences’ senses from the start. It’s visually spectacular as well, with the costume and production designs detailed and colorful.
In the Heights also touches upon themes of belonging, what home can look like for first and second generation immigrants. With feet planted firmly in Washington Heights, the residents of the block contemplate their dreams beyond their neighborhood while also exploring their dual identities and sense of where they fit in. Some of them are able to hope for a better future, believing that things will start happening for them if they leave the neighborhood behind; others don’t have the privilege to dream at all because they aren’t deemed citizens in a country they have always called home. In the Heights also explores the pressures of generational expectations and how a parent’s dreams can be shifted to their child, which can cause a lot of tension, but is a subject that is incredibly realistic and handled with the right amount of thoughtfulness.
While the film contends with belonging, it also celebrates bicultural identities with poignancy, heart, warmth, and pride. In the Heights is a beautifully made film and the passionate efforts that have been poured into bringing it to life are on display in every scene. There are a couple of alterations made from the original show to fit more with the flow of the film and it works, effectively enhancing the experience of the musical’s original setup without removing the heart of the story. Musicals are not so easy to adapt to the big screen — some things work in favor of the story while others don’t. However, In the Heights is engrossing, vibrant, with a thoughtful, entertainingly-told story that feels spirited and authentic.
In the Heights will release in theaters and on HBO Max June 11. The film is 143 minutes long and is rated PG-13 for some language and suggestive references.
