‘In The Heights’ Non-Spoiler Review

In The Heights, based on the Tony Award-winning musical of the same name, has entertained audiences on and off-Broadway for years. The film’s story is written by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegria Hudes and directed by Jon M. Chu. This retelling captivates audiences from the moment the lights come up on Washington Heights.

Plot Breakdown

The film revolves around several characters. Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) owns a bodega. Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz) is the matriarch of Washington Heights. With no real children of her own, she adopts the neighborhood. “The one who made it out” is Nina (Leslie Grace). Following her first year in college, she travels back to the neighborhood for the summer.

Benny (Corey Hawkins) works at Nina’s father’s dispatch center and dreams of starting his own business. Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) works at Daniela’s salon but hopes to become a fashion designer. Usnavi’s cousin, Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV), works at the bodega. There is Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega), the local salon owner, and Carla (Stephanie Beatriz), and Cuca (Dascha Polanco), who both work at the salon. It’s a place where everyone comes to gossip. Their lives all intermingle in the close-knit neighborhood. 

Usnavi begins the story with narration. A small group of children is listening to him tell the story of Washington Heights. The film takes place over three days, culminating in a massive blackout. There is a sense that the neighborhood is disappearing. Usnavi is preparing to move back to the Dominican Republic. Vanessa has her heart set on an apartment in the city.

Upon returning from college, Nina is struggling with a secret she’s keeping from her father. Daniela,  Carla, and Cuca are relocating their salon to the Bronx. Kevin (Jimmy Smits), Nina’s father, has to decide whether to sell his dispatch center. All the while, there’s a massive heatwave and many other factors that I won’t spoil for you.

Performances

This film has phenomenal talent, and I’m so grateful to report that. Anthony Ramos shines as Usnavi! Besides Hamilton, I had only seen Ramos in a handful of things. Some people are born for the stage, while others for the screen. He has a place for himself in both. In the future, I hope to see him in more musical films.

In their respective roles as Vanessa and Nina, Melissa Barrera and Leslie Grace stand out. Their voices are so distinctive, I can’t imagine someone else playing them. Like Ramos, I hope this film paved the way for more leading roles.

Supporting Roles

As far as supporting roles go, Carla (Stephanie Beatriz) stood out to me. My association with Stephanie is strictly Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but I found myself searching for her any chance I had.

Miranda’s shows are filled with familiar faces, as is his style. Yes, I’m sure you recognized him as Piragüero. When Nina sings “Breathe”, Miranda’s parents make a small cameo appearance. Christopher Jackson appears as the Mister Softee ice cream man. In the Broadway production, plays the original Benny.

Although her performance is not a cameo, seeing Olga Merediz reprise her role as Abuela Claudia was such a treat. A parallel can almost be drawn here. As I mentioned, Abuela Claudia is the matriarch of the neighborhood, who takes everyone in under her wings. Olga Merediz seems to play that role behind the scenes, taking this new generation of performers under her wing.

Choreography

The choreography in this film paid homage to some of the greats, whether intentionally or not. Throughout the film, choreographer Christopher Scott seems to channel West Side Story or Mary Poppins-style dance ensembles. The choreography doesn’t take away from the lyrics and vice versa. “Carnaval Del Barrio” and “No Me Diga” might be the top two for me, but I could be biased because they’re two of my favorite songs.

Final Thoughts

You come across films now and then that resonate with you. You might relate to the characters, you might be inspired by the costumes, or you might be moved by the music. In The Heights is a package deal. You don’t have to be a genius to figure that out. This film oozes heart and soul. It’s a love letter to Washington Heights. A neighborhood that’s so much more than houses and storefronts, it’s a community of people who have grown and nurtured their lives together. Its themes still hold relevance and importance today. In The Heights is the perfect musical to make a stage-to-screen transition. It’s unapologetically authentic and carries true representation throughout. In The Heights is in theaters everywhere today and available to stream on HBO Max.