In the Heights (2021) | agoodmovietowatch
Back
Movie

In the Heights 2021

A rousing modern musical and a vibrant celebration of Latino culture

Our Take (by Emil Hofileña)

Even if you aren’t familiar with the original, Tony Award-winning Broadway production from Lin-Manuel Miranda, this adaptation of In the Heights is still infused with the same infectious energy and loaded with many of the same eclectic songs. This is musical theater at its most fundamental (cheesy, us-against-the-world romance; unstoppable optimism) and also at some of its most unique—with old-school Broadway numbers mixing seamlessly with hip hop, Latin dance, and cheery 2000s pop. But beyond its music, In the Heights offers a gorgeous tapestry of stories about life in a proud immigrant community and the challenges of staying rooted to home while reaching for the stars.

Notable Critics

"To dramatize such binding ideals, for almost two and a half hours, and to conjure precipitous revels from next to nothing, as Miranda and Chu have done, is no small feat."

— Anthony Lane

"What a magnificent sight to behold."

— Tomris Laffly

Synopsis

The story of Usnavi, a bodega owner who has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic or staying in Washington Heights.

Awards

Golden Globes

2 nominations

Nominated: Best ActorNominated: Best Actor

Comments

About the author

Emil Hofileña

Emil Hofileña

Emil Hofileña is a curator at A Good Movie to Watch. He also writes as a theater critic, with work published in Rogue and Out of Print, among others. He’s probably crying over a movie or an episode as we speak.