In the Heights (2021)

I loved this so much that I watched it again (in segments because it's too long at 2:23) and I almost never do that. Jack liked it too, despite its length. Lin-Manuel Miranda's Tony-winning musical has been transformed for the big screen with Busby Berkeley-type choreography, drone shots, and an overall good time. Anthony Ramos steps in for Miranda as Usnavi and Corey Hawkins for Christopher Jackson as Benny. Melissa Barrera is Vanessa, Leslie Grace is Nina, Jimmy Smits is her father Kevin, and Olga Merediz, who was Tony-nominated for Abuela Claudia, fills the role again here. All of them sing with spirit and precision. The three salon ladies are played for laughs by Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, and Dascha Polanco. Miranda and Jackson are seen as competing ice treat sellers (the Piragüero and Mr. Softee).

Jon M. Chu directs from Quiara Alegria Hudes' screenplay, based on the musical stage play with music, lyrics, and concept by Miranda and book by Hudes. The score is also credited to Alex Lacamoire and Bill Sherman.

Special mention of cinematographer Alice Brooks and choreographer Christopher Scott. And where did they find the dancers in the swimming pool scene whose shoulders popped out like that??

Just a few trivia items: at one point Kevin is on the phone and the hold music is an instrumental of You'll Be Back from Hamilton. In the song 96,000, the original 2008 lyric was "Donald Trump and I are on the links and he's my caddy." Now he sings Tiger Woods. And filming for Steven Spielberg's adaptation of West Side Story took place just a few blocks away in New York.

Ramos, Miranda, and Jackson were last blogged for Hamilton, Hawkins for Straight Outta Compton, Smits for Mother and Child, Rubin-Vega for Jack Goes Boating, and Chu for Crazy Rich Asians. Barrera is best known to me for playing Lyn (the wild sister) in 22 episodes of Vida. Grace is a singer/songwriter making her acting debut. Beatriz is the hilarious Rosa Diaz in 153 episodes of Brooklyn Nine-Nine, among her many credits, and Polanco played Daya in 89 of Orange Is the New Black as well as Beatrice in four of Russian Doll, to name a few. This is the feature film debut for Hudes, Lacamoire, and Sherman. Brooks shot Queen Bees and Scott choreographed Now You See Me 2, though I failed to mention them.

Rotten Tomatoes' critics and audiences are averaging high 95 and 94. The movie is playing in bricks and mortar theatres but, after much discussion, we streamed it on HBO Max on June 30. It would certainly benefit from the big screen, though, if you are willing to go there. Otherwise, donate in lieu of tickets!

Whether you watch it at home or away, stay tuned for the final bonus song after the credits.