Jumping from stage to screen the musical drama Dear Evan Hansen is a smash hit. The film shows the challenges of high schoolers and deals with one of the most damning one, suicide. Uplifting and sensational, the acting is terrific and the direction stellar. While its’ about teens, the film is directed toward all ages. Don’t miss it at your local theater.
It’s just another school day for Evan Hansen (Ben Platt) who has been struggling through his senior year of high school due to his psychological problem of social anxiety. He has been suffering from a broken arm and when he checks his school locker, he runs into student outcast Connor Murphy (Colton Ryan). Rude comments are made by Connor and the two part. Later Even writes a glowing letter to himself as suggested by his therapist to help boost his ego.
When he prints it out, Connor grabs the paper out of the printer, reads it and gets offended that Evan had mentioned a crush on his sister Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever) in the letter. Running off with the letter, Connor stuffs it into his pocket. Four days later Connor takes his own life. Connor’s parents, Cynthia (Amy Adams) and Larry (Danny Pino), finding Evan’s letter misconstrue it as a last letter to his best friend Evan.
So begins a tale of miscommunication, misunderstanding and a plot that will change Evan’s life forever. Director Stephen Chbosky (“The Perks of Being a Wallflower”) moves his film along at a fast pace even though it is over 2 hours long. Digging deep into his characters, the audience gets a good look at each of the persons that affects the situation in which Evan Hansen finds himself. Building up a relationship between Evan and the parents of the boy who committed suicide, the plot thickens as it moves into the classroom and then onto social media where Evan gets trapped in a lie that may never be resolved in his favor.
The acting by the whole cast is very good, especially Ben Platt who had originally played Evan Hansen on Broadway. He presents Evan as a loner who just doesn’t fit in. Wanting to be accepted, he gets caught up in a tough situation on whether to admit the lie to Connor’s parents that he was not really his best friend. Going from a moody kid with guarded feelings to a campus hero, Platt does a stellar job of matching his character to the plot.
Dear Evan Hansen has a very good musical score and lyrics to fit the theme. Not over powering the dramatic acting, but just enough songs to change the tempo of the film or to create the changes in feelings of the characters. For me the most touching song of the film is “You Will Be Found”. It sends an important message that when you are lost among your peers, you will eventually find your way and to never give up on life.
The film has been rated PG-13 by the MPAA for thematic material involving suicide, brief strong language and some suggestive reference. Editor’s note: The suicide by Connor Murphy is not actually shown or any information given on how he took his life.
Additional Film Information:
Cast: Ben Platt, Juliane Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Amy Adams, Amandia Stenberg, Colton Ryan, Nik Dodani
Directed by: Stephen Chbosky
Genre: Drama, Musical
MPAA Rating: PG-13 for thematic material involving suicide, brief strong language and some suggestive reference
Running Time: 2 hrs. 17 min,
Opening Date: September 24, 2021
Distributed by: Universal Pictures
Released in: Theaters
Writer, critic, film editor John Delia, Sr. has been on all sides of the movie business from publications to film making. He has worked as a film critic with ACED Magazine for more than 20 years and other publications for a total of 40 years. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Florida. John is a member of the Southeastern Film Critics Association and Critics Association of Central Florida Send John a message at jdelia@acedmagazine.com
