Review of In the Heights (2021) by Jluis_001 — 12 Jun 2021

Talking about musicals in film is kinda difficult because when they're transformed into films, they're allowed to be explored in a very different way than how they manage to do it in the theater.

In some cases this usually works because the production is brought to life in another way that is simply impossible to do on stage.

The numbers can be more ambitious, more complex.

Visual effects and special effects can be included.

We can get different perspectives from the performers that are otherwise limited in theater.

In The Heights knows that, and uses it to its advantage, but it also has the enormous disadvantage that what feels natural in the play, in the film becomes an extremely simplistic and repetitive narrative device.

What do I mean by this? I'm talking about the musical numbers.

In the play each performance represents a process, beginning and end, but when you're following a narrative in a film, the fact that the characters speak for 3 or 4 minutes and then start singing and dancing, it feels unbalanced. It takes you out of flow in a very rough way.

I cannot deny that there is a lot of talent in what is seen on screen, especially effort, and the film looks very good.

The execution of both, the dance numbers, and the performers, is really good.

The message of inclusion is more than vital and contemporary in the Latino community, but if you really analyze the film, it's 143 minutes that yes, they can be colorful and fun, but they're also a bit hollow.

The music is good, and it can be very impressive to many in the audience, but for me, I gotta be honest, I didn't take anything of the experience with me after it ended.

You feel neither different nor more enlightened from what you saw at the beginning with what you saw at the end.

As I said, the experience can be very entertaining, and that's valid, but at least I need more so that I can say: "This was great, this was memorable.".

It's appreciated that it provides a conspicuous setting to demonstrate this diversity, but ultimately it does nothing to be a better movie.

And I know you could argue that it's not about that, but about having a good time, having fun, and I can understand that aspect.

And I applaud what this movie does very well. The funny and remarkable moments, but I also emphasize what it doesn't achieve, and that is that beyond the idea, the promise and the dream, In The Heights doesn't provide something that will make it a musical worth remembering. At least for the long haul.