In The Heights

Jon M. Chu and Quiara Alegria Hudes, bring Lin-Manuel Miranda’s stage musical to the screen. Set in a Latino community in New York we find a mix of dreamers and realists, at its heart are the stories of Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), Nina (Leslie Grace), Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) and Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV) each with a dream, each with a struggle. Usnavi dreams of a return back to the Dominican Republic, Nina carrying the hopes of the community as she heads to Stanford, but finds it’s not what she hoped. Vanessa wants to better herself and pursue her fashion dreams, while Sonny is young and wants to make his place in the world. All built around the colour, music and dance of Miranda’s musical.

What this is a great example of is how the final act can change your whole view of a film. That certainly happened here, as it beautifully pulled together the narrative, delivering a satisfying emotional punch of an ending, winning me over completely.

Before that you get a lot of what you expect, a story of a community struggling to survive and retain its identity, while at the same time its residents see their only opportunities elsewhere. It occasionally explores topics of racism,  the treatment of immigrants, gentrification, financial struggle and loss. All in the framework of some wonderfully choreographed musical moments.

Unlike something like La La Land, this often betrays its stage musical roots, but that doesn’t matter, performances are enjoyable and engaging, with the leads well supported by the likes of Corey Hawkins, Jimmy Smits and especially Olga Merediz as the matriarch figure Abuela. There are also plenty of enjoyable song and dance numbers.

While it doesn’t feel like a classic of a musical adaptation and did run a little long, its wonderfully judged final act gives it a warm emotional centre that should put a smile on anyone’s face and Miranda’s piragua song an ear worm to take home.