Following in the footsteps of YA predecessors like The Fault in Our Stars, Everything Everything, and Before I Fall, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise is driven by an unfortunate situation - one devastating and life-changing moment that upends the main character’s young life and changes its course forever. The big twist is that the film is not actually based on a YA novel, though it does follow the same formula. The Ultimate Playlist of Noise has some lovely and heartwarming moments, but it lacks a strong central relationship and is often too formulaic.
The Ultimate Playlist of Noise isn’t interested in a thoughtful exploration of a teen living with deafness. Rather, it’s a vehicle used to drive the narrative and the reason behind the protagonist’s adventures. In that vein, The Ultimate Playlist of Noise gets too caught up in exuding a false sense of comfort and warmth. However, the film is boosted by great performances and family drama that allows its story to flourish and delve into deeper and more nuanced territory.
Marcus Lund (Keean Johnson) is an audiophile who loves nothing more than making mixed tapes for his teachers and classmates. He’s driven by the sound of music and tries to honor his late brother Alex, who died after saving Marcus from a fire, in everything he does. However, everything changes after Marcus experiences a seizure that leads to the discovery of a brain tumor. Although it’s potentially benign, the doctors believe it’s a risk and opt to do brain surgery that would not only remove the tumor, but would permanently take away Marcus’ ability to hear the sounds he loves the most. He’s devastated and embarks on a road trip to New York City alongside budding musician Wendy (Madeline Brewer) as a last ditch effort to hear and record all the sounds he’s going to miss, including his brother’s singing voice.
The Ultimate Playlist of Noise wants to be a quirky, memorable, feel-good dramedy and it succeeds in some respects, while failing in others. The film, which is directed by Bennett Lasseter with a screenplay by Mitchell Winkie, is anchored by the personal journey of Marcus, whose coming-of-age story is simultaneously filled with optimism and hard truths. The reaction he has to his diagnosis is much different than others and Marcus chooses to focus his energy on the road trip and hanging out with the girl of his dreams. This is where the film begins to flail as Wendy's characterization is largely that of a manic pixie dream girl, who’s mostly there to help Marcus achieve his dreams.
The Ultimate Playlist of Noise's most satisfying and personal storyline is the one between him and his mother Alyssa (Rya Kihlstedt). The pair have a lot of great, difficult conversations that are meaningful enough to elevate the film's central story. Marcus’ road trip ultimately sets up some family drama that gives the characters some meaty material to work with. Perhaps one of the best things about the film is its compilation of the sounds Marcus records. There is something wondrous about it all and the way that it’s executed makes it understandable to see why Marcus would miss listening.
All that said, the film falters elsewhere. Marcus and Wendy's relationship isn't entirely effective or interesting enough to carry the film and the supporting characters - Marcus' dad Dominic (Ian Gomez) and best friends Sarah (Ariela Barer) and Laura (Emily Skeggs) - have very, very little to do outside of being physically present in scenes to lend their support. What's more, the drama is often contrived, setting up confrontations between characters that don't always feel earned by the end. While The Ultimate Playlist of Noise doesn't work on every level, its lighthearted tone and Johnson's genuine portrayal of Marcus' emotions make up for its pitfalls.
The Ultimate Playlist of Noise began streaming on Hulu on January 15, 2021. It runs 99 minutes and is rated TV-MA.
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