Film Review: "In the Heights" (2021).

"Turn Up the Volume on Your Dreams" with In the Heights. This musical drama film directed by Jon M. Chu, adapted by Quiara Alegría Hudes and based on the stage musical of the same name by Hudes and Lin-Manuel Miranda. 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 a likable, magnetic bodega owner who saves every penny from his daily grind as he hopes, imagines, and sings about a better life.

In early November 2008, Universal Pictures announced a cinematic adaptation of Hudes and Miranda's 2005 musical with Kenny Ortega hired to direct, a budget of $37 million and a 2011 release date. However, in March 2011, the project was cancelled due to the fact Universal was looking for a "bankable Latino star" instead of unknown actors. In January 2012, Miranda stated that the film adaptation was back under discussion. In May 2016, it was announced that Miranda would co-produce the film with Harvey Weinstein and backing from The Weinstein Company. In early June 2016, Chu was hired to direct. In the aftermath of numerous sexual misconduct allegations made against Weinstein, his producer credit on the film was removed, with the rights to the film eventually auctioned off to Warner Bros. for $50 million. Warner Bros. was one of several studios wanting to produce the film—due to the success of Hamilton; to persuade Miranda and Chu, they built a backlot bodega with piragua carts and set up performances of songs from the show. By early June 2019, Anthony Ramos, Melissa Barrera, Leslie Grace, Corey Hawkins, Olga Merediz, Jimmy Smits, Gregory Diaz IV, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco and Miranda were cast. At the same time, principal photography commenced and took place throughout New York City, New York, including Washington Heights. Christopher Scott served as choreographer. The vocal performances in the film are a mix of the actors singing live on-set, pre-recorded audio, and re-recorded in the studio during post-production. The production team's choice to use one or the others depended on the environment of the scene and tone of the song. The film was previously scheduled for a June 26, 2020 release date , but it was delayed to June 18, 2021, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, before being moved up to June 11, and finally to June 10.

The film stars Ramos, Barrera, Grace, Hawkins, Merediz, Smits, Diaz IV, Rubin-Vega, Beatriz, Polanco and Miranda. The cast astonishes with, not only their amazing musical numbers, but also with their dramatic moments.

The music is exhilarating, but the lyrics are a big surprise. The sense, as well as the sound of the sung dialogue, has been purposely suited to each character. In the end, Miranda's impassioned narrative of one community's story becomes the collective narrative of a nation, a nation built by immigrants who occasionally need to be reminded where they came from.

Simon says In the Heights receives:

Also, see my review for Crazy Rich Asians.