In the Heights — Movie Review
by KJ Proulx
When it comes to musicals on film, they ride a very fine line between great and too cheesy for me. For myself, movies like Into the Woods or Rock of Ages seem to be striving for spectacle and star power over substance, which is never the right thing for a film. When looking at films like Singin’ in the Rain or West Side Story though, you can tell just as much care went into the story as the music. I’m very happy to say that In the Heights follows that description. Here’s why I believe it’s one of the better films I’ve seen in 2021 so far.
Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) works day in and day out at a Bodega/Convenience Store in New York with dreams of a better life. The film focuses on the many struggles of others around him as well, but he is the central character. It almost doesn’t feel right to focus solely on his character, because everyone is given a moment to shine here. The real-life issues involving friends, family, poverty, aspirations that may not come true, and the tests to see if you have what it takes to do something with your life are all addressed here and I loved every minute of those moments. A great story needs to be the backbone of every musical, but anyone who wishes to see this film will also be hoping for great musical numbers and I don’t think they will be disappointed here.
In the Heights not only cares about its characters but strives to provide incredible musical performances that are quite memorable. From catchy tunes to raw and authentic monologues, I was sucked into this story from start to finish. In particular, I really enjoyed the on-screen chemistry between Benny (Corey Hawkins) and Nina (Leslie Grace) and their touching moments on the street, as well as a very well-done sequence involving the side of a building. Everyone in the cast is terrific though and a few performances/songs, in particular, brought me to tears since the build-up was so nicely constructed. I found that most of these characters were moving in their own unique way.
As far as the direction of the film goes, you can colour me incredibly impressed. Helmed by John M. Chu (G.I. Joe: Retaliation, Step Up 2: The Streets), I never once saw him as someone who would make a film that I would love. I’ve seen nothing but an improvement from him as a director through the years. Doing some fun scenes with great choreography in the Step Up films and directing some decent action in G.I. Joe: Retaliation, it was really Crazy Rich Asians that put him on the map for me. It wasn’t anything like his previous style which made me think he is capable of so much more. Well, In the Heights is easily his best work yet and I think he should be very proud of his work here.
Overall, In the Heights does suffer from feeling about 10–20 minutes too long, due to taking the time to flesh out secondary characters, but most of the time it still worked for me. When you break this film down and look at the great cinematography by Alice Brooks, the fantastic direction by John M. Chu, the committed performances by everyone involved, and the emotional backbone to each of the characters involved, I really didn’t have much to complain about here. Yes, the movie feels slightly overstuffed in terms of how many stories are being told, but they are all still very well-done. Now available on-demand and in theatres, I absolutely recommend checking out In the Heights, especially if you’re a fan of musicals.
Rating: 4.5/5
Check out the trailer below:
