First Time Watching: Sky Cinema’s In The Heights Movie Review by Ryan Balkwill

Genre: Musical

Directed by Jon M. Chu

Produced by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Quiara Alegría Hudes, Scott Sanders, Anthony Bregman, Mara Jacobs

Screenplay by Quiara Alegría Hudes

Based on In the Heights by Quiara Alegría Hudes, Lin-Manuel Miranda

Starring: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV & Jimmy Smits.

Edited by Myron Kerstein

Music by Myron Kerstein

Cinematography: Alice Brooks

Production Companies: 5000 Broadway Productions; Barrio Grrrl! Productions; Likely Story; SGS Pictures; Endeavor Content

Distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures

The plot: In Washington Heights, Usnavi, a store owner, wishes to go back to his parent’s homeland. His life gets intertwined with the other residents of the neighborhood who cherish their dreams.

I didn’t like In the Heights Movie.

Pros: Some of the music from this film was fun to jiggle too and that’s it.

Cons: I didn’t get what the film was all about interns the movie. There are a lot of musical numbers that didn’t feel connected to the rest of the story and I rainout of patience with this film.       

Hopefully, you will enjoy this film more than I do.

Cast:

• Anthony Ramos as Usnavi
• Corey Hawkins as Benny
• Leslie Grace as Nina Rosario
• Melissa Barrera as Vanessa
• Olga Merediz as Abuela Claudia
• Daphne Rubin-Vega as Daniela
• Gregory Diaz IV as Sonny
• Jimmy Smits as Kevin Rosario
• Stephanie Beatriz as Carla
• Dascha Polanco as Cuca
• Marc Anthony as Gapo
• Noah Catala as Graffiti Pete

In addition, Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote the music and lyrics of the original musical and played Usnavi in the original Broadway run, appears as the piragüero, who keeps having run-ins with the Mr. Softee Truck Driver, portrayed by Christopher Jackson, who originated the Benny character through to the original Broadway run. Olga Merediz also reprises her role as Abuela Claudia.

 I still recommend watching this film to those who love musicals.

Rating: 2 out of 5 Stars

Ryan Balkwill:

Resident film reviewer,

Level Best Art Cafe.