[Review] In The Heights (5.5/10)

 

Title - In The Heights
Production - Warner Bros. Pictures, 5000 Broadway Productions
Starring - Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera, Leslie Grace, Corey Hawkins, Jimmy Smits, Olga Merediz, Gregory Diaz IV, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Writer - Quiara Alegria Hudes, Lin-Manuel Miranda
Director - John M. Chu
Release - 11 June 2021

I'm not sure if it's Lin-Manuel Miranda's writing but I've experienced two of his movie scripts (this one he co-wrote) and both movies' lead characters just do not develop well. 

His character in Hamilton was not a good guy, and here, Anthony Ramos' character suddenly became unlikeable for no good reason to end the second act. 

And unfortunately also, John M. Chu's direction still looked like he's directing music videos. But this also means that the dance numbers were given some great highlights. 

Another thing that threw me off was the countdown to the blackout. I thought the whole community knew it was coming, and / or it would cause some major destruction; but both were untrue and there was no big drama other than the one that Ramos' character created for himself.

The cast, though, was great. From the four leads to veteran actress Olga Merediz, all sang beautifully. And Corey Hawkins is having a good year for himself with two big theatrical movies (though almost no one saw both - the other being The Tragedy Of Macbeth). 

The third act, following how the second act ended, no longer held my interest. It felt a little forced with how the community gathered, and very unconvincing with the final number. Maybe the stage play is better.