In The Heights is, simply put, a masterpiece. It is visually stunning and the music is like heaven on the ears.
In the Heights is a not just a musical masterpiece, it is a visually stunning love letter to Washington Heights. Based on the first musical from the creator of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda, this film does a brilliant job of capturing the feel of the stage and story, but bringing it to the big screen. This is largely in part to the incredibly talented cast, and the fact that Miranda was so involved with the process — even playing a role in the movie, and performing a solo.
For those that do not know the story of In The Heights, it centers around the neighborhood of Washington Heights, and focuses on the connection its residents have with each other. Bodega owner Usnavi, played by Anthony Ramos, dreams of getting away and back to his roots in the Dominican Republic, while Nina, played by Leslie Grace, feels like she is betraying her culture by going to college at Stanford University.
Benny, played by Corey Hawkins, works for Nina’s dad, played by Jimmy Smits, and has eyes for Nina. Usnavi has a crush as well, on Vanessa, played by Melissa Barrera. The whole neighborhood has been basically adopted by the lovely Abuela Claudia, played by Olga Merediz, who is a complete scene stealer, as is Sonny, played by Gregory Diaz IV.
Three ladies — Claudia, played by Stephanie Beatriz, Daniela, played by Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Cuca, played by Dascha Polanco — work at the salon in the Heights, but will be moving to a new location, marking what people fear is the beginning of the end for their culture in the neighborhood.
The story itself is a love letter to Latinx culture that can be enjoyed by everyone. Each musical performance is feels like a standout, as all of them are incredible. Some are big and bold and filled with amazing dances, while some are more intimate and subtle — but all feel iconic. They are bright, bold, and vibrant, and performed perfectly by the cast.
Speaking of the cast, with a huge ensemble like this, it can be easy to be overshadowed, but not many of the characters are. The run time allows most of them to have their moments, and their full story arcs, without feeling like the viewers are missing out on something. Don’t worry about the run time being too long either, as the way it is divided up with unforgettable song and dance, it never drags or slips into a lull.
There is one scene in particular, at the pool where it is obvious some green screen was used, perhaps in reshoots, but other than that, it is hard to find fault in this film. In The Heights is a captivating movie that appeals to both the eyes and ears with the stunning visuals, and well performed musical numbers.
The thing about In The Heights is that it addresses some serious issues, like when Nina mentions being mistaken for the wait staff at school, and her father struggling to pay for her tuition, but it does so in a way that feels real, while still showing that there is hope. There are some moments that will tug at the heartstrings though, so have those tissues handy!
About In The Heights
The creator of “Hamilton” and the director of “Crazy Rich Asians” invite you to a cinematic event, where the streets are made of music and little dreams become big… “In the Heights.”
Lights up on Washington Heights…The scent of a cafecito caliente hangs in the air just outside of the 181st Street subway stop, where a kaleidoscope of dreams rallies this vibrant and tight-knit community. At the intersection of it all is the likeable, magnetic bodega owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), who saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines and sings about a better life.
“In the Heights” fuses Lin-Manuel Miranda’s kinetic music and lyrics with director Jon M. Chu’s lively and authentic eye for storytelling to capture a world very much of its place, but universal in its experience.
In The Heights hits theaters and HBO Max on June 11th.
Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.