In The Heights Movie Review
Nathan Swank
June 17th, 2021
Based on the musical stage play by Lin-Manuel Miranda and adapted to screen by Quiana Algeria, IN THE HEIGHTS is an energized, song-tastic musical that captures the joyful essence of family and community.
After more than a year of a pandemic that has withheld most of the world from communing with one another, IN THE HEIGHTS is the perfect medicine (other than actually being vaccinated) to wipe those lonely blues away. The colorful set pieces, costumes, choreography, and performances all come together beautifully to bring a certain happiness and unity while viewing. Director Jon M. Chu, (CRAZY RICH ASIANS and STEP UP 2: THE STREETS) deserves so much credit by lively recreating a stage production for screen without it looking like… a stage production. The camera moves in and out of rooms, streets, sidewalks, and swimming pools, while adding visual flairs of simple surreal effects, outlining movements and dances. Simply put, IN THE HEIGHTS is a heck of a lot of fun and everyone involved seems to be having just as much fun creating it.
Set in a predominantly Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights, New York, IN THE HEIGHTS follows several characters during a summer heat wave. At the center of our story is Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), a young bodega shop owner, who dreams of saving enough to return to the Dominican Republic. The community is almost like a family, supporting and dining with one another. Each character has their own conflicts that are preventing goals to their ideas of success and love. Each learning that their sueñitos or little dreams might be different than what they originally had in mind.
Casting performers with backgrounds in musical theater is another strength of the film, as all the supporting characters are absolutely wonderful. But the true star is Anthony Ramos, who is simply magnetic as Usnavi. He brings a light and charisma to the performance that lifts the whole film to heights that could not have been met by anyone else.
Much like Spike Lee’s DO THE RIGHT THING, the culture, neighborhood, and heat feel authentic and alive. There is even a nice shout out moment that quickly highlights strong influential Hispanic women in history. These truisms help feed the powerful life force of believability the film is able to capture while still in a world where people break out in choreographed song and dance.
Similar to Lin-Manuel’s HAMILTON, the music is non-stop with quick-witted lyrics and catchy rhymes. Like many musicians and composers, Lin-Manuel definitely has a style, and that style is rightfully being embraced, making musicals a main-stream commodity. While Lin-Manuel played the lead in the original broadway production, he has stepped into a minor role of the Piraguero, otherwise known as the guy who sells the flavor-filled shaved-ice. The scenes are cute, but could have easily been shaved off to bring the excessive 2 hours and 23 minute runtime to a more family friendly length.
But so many of the musical numbers are smile-inducing standouts, with the opening 10 minutes being one that I’m sure will be replayed many times over. The pool sequence during ‘96,000’ and ‘The Club’ are also thoroughly entertaining, but I’m sure everyone will grow to have their own favorite.
IN THE HEIGHTS is fairly formulaic as far as the story is concerned. You’ve seen these character arcs before, and mostly know exactly what’s going to happen and how things are going to end up without much surprise. But what separates IN THE HEIGHTS is the heart and joy in which the story is told. Everyone involved brings the recognizable story to life in a uniquely energized and entertaining way that I believe will be cherished for years.
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