After the success of "Hamilton", it is no surprise that we are getting another stage musical from Lin-Manuel Miranda. In "In the Heights", we get that unique musical mix that we all expect from a Lin-Manuel Miranda production. Intermixed with a culturally diverse backbone, "In the Heights" is another powerful experience that will leave its viewers physically and emotionally moved.
We find ourselves smack dab in the middle of Washington Heights, New York were the Latino-dominated community find themselves in the crossroads of inevitable change. Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) who owns the corner convenience store in the area has been saving every penny to fulfill his dream of going back to the Dominican Republic and buy back his father's resort. As we join his journey through highs and lows, we will also get to know the diverse and unique characters impacting not only Usnavi's life directly but Washington Heights' future as a whole.
We will have to admit that "In the Heights" clearly showed its earlier roots against the backdrop of "Hamilton". The narrative for the film was jampacked full of various characters that needed to be introduced and have their own backstories developed. The fluidity that the narrative took was just overwhelming at times and honestly, the vignettes that we get felt disjointed especially in the first act of the film. Luckily, "In the Heights" finds its footing in the second act with the story blooming into a tour-de-force that completely blew us away. As anticipated, the music in "In the Heights" was our favorite part. The songs were a symphony of different genres that will leave you grooving and moving with its upbeat tunes. Coupled with superb performances, choreography, and direction from John M. Chu, "In the Heights", even with its faults, will be an experience that you won't forget about in a very long time.
Rating: 4 reels
Why you should watch it:
- awesome production and choreography will leave you grooving and in an upbeat mood
- powerful performances especially from Anthony Ramos
Why you shouldn't watch it:
- the narrative felt disjointed and too loose especially in its first half
- there's a lot of characters that you need to follow
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