REVIEW: ‘In The Heights’ Shines With Love, Hope, Music, Inclusivity, and Community

In The Heights will have you dancing, laughing, crying, and full of hope. Warner Bros. Pictures’ anticipated new musical film tells the story of the community of Washington Heights and stars Anthony Ramos (A Star is Born, Broadway’s Hamilton), Corey Hawkins (Straight Outta Compton, Kong: Skull Island), singer/songwriter Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera (TV’s Vida), Olga Merediz (Broadway’s In the Heights), Daphne Rubin-Vega (Broadway’s Rent), Gregory Diaz IV (Broadway’s Matilda the Musical), Stephanie Beatriz (TV’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine), Dascha Polanco (TV’s Orange Is the New Black) and Jimmy Smits (the Star Wars films).  

This exciting Broadway musical turned film was created by Lin-Manuel Miranda (Hamilton) and directed by Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) who collaborated with screenwriter Quiara Alegría Hudes. In the Heights is lauded as a “cinematic event, where the streets are made of music, and little dreams become big.” It was filmed in New York, primarily on location in Washington Heights’ dynamic community. Jon M. Chu’s direction was beautifully done, and it was such an inspiring story translated in combination with the insanely good intimate cinematography that reflected the essence of the community. As expected, there was so much to unpack with Lin-Manuel and Quiara Alegría Hudes’ brilliant writing. There were so many beautiful stories intertwined that were all important narratives.

In The Heights tells the story of Usnavi, played by Anthony Ramos, who lost his parents, desires to buy a property back home in the Dominican Republic that was destroyed during a hurricane, and struggled with his yearning for a better way of life. Ribboned in are the stories of the cast with their unique journeys. There wasn’t a moment that I questioned Ramos’ casting in carrying this film; he exudes passion for the stage and screen. Ramos was brilliant as an actor, singer, poet, and dancer and at times his character spoke to the camera, building an even closer bond to the viewer in helping to tell his story. Usnavi struggles with the indecision of leaving the United States for the potential new business, yet is pulled by his ties to his community in Washington Heights with his bodega that was a staple for many. He also struggled with his plight to elevate Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV), a young cousin that is undocumented. He was reminded by Sonny’s father, played by Marc Anthony, of the struggles that Sonny already has and disagrees with Sonny leaving the United States to join Usnavi in the Dominican Republic.

Ramos shines in many musical numbers, including the film’s intro for the song “In the Heights” and “The Club,” where Usnavi is pursuing Vanessa. Unfortunately, she doesn’t seem to have too much time for Usnavi as she struggles with moving on from the salon to a career in fashion with a new apartment downtown. His duet with Vanessa in “Champagne” was bittersweet, where she finally shares her love for him and wants to celebrate their success as we watch them share their first real kiss.

Leslie Grace gives a captivating portrayal of Nina who is a student who has returned home. Melissa Barrera is enchanting as Vanessa a local salon worker, and Corey Hawkins’ voice as Benny, who is working for Nina’s father, Kevin Rosario (Jimmy Smits), is chilling. The loving relationships and romantic scenes were subtle and just enough between Daniela (Daphne Rubin-Vega) and Carla (Stephanie Beatriz), Nina and Benny, and Usnavi and Vanessa. The visual of the bridge as the backdrop for Benny and Nina with the sun setting was so soothing; they really nailed it on the nostalgic set design.

The cinematography, music, and visuals are stimulating from beginning to end. The click of the locks as Usnavi opens up his bodega and the sound of Lin-Manuel shaving ice for the kids on the street, to the music and dance and the special effects; this is a film you will watch for years to come.

It’s like taking Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing, Hamilton, and even more truth, honesty, culture, and representation and shaking it up in a snow globe and finding an original new and refreshing form of storytelling called, In the Heights.

The film shows the love of community, people, elders, culture, and the “sounds of the block.” Even the dinner party scenes had you wanting to take the A train there to enjoy the delicacies. Especially with so many suffering in the pandemic, it was a breath of fresh air that some cannot experience right now. So this film will resonate with many and bring some comfort seeing such a beautiful display of culture. If you can’t be there, you can absolutely feel it through this film.

The salon scene highlighted Daniela, the owner, and her wife Carla, who worked at the salon as they lived a blissful queer life. We saw them moving the salon to the Grand Concourse throughout the film, with other new businesses moving in with gentrification. The salon was their oasis for the community, with all shapes and sizes of people represented with the banter, gossip, music, life, and humor that was a staple to so many working-class women. The scene comes alive in this musical number, “No Me Diga,” as they welcome Nina home from college and tease her over her love interest, Benny. The overall casting showed so many aspects of the Latinx culture that dominates Washington Heights. The film included people with all hair textures and the inclusive spectrum of many different shades and hues, however, it would have been nice to see darker-skinned leads cast outside of the extras in the salon or in the dance scenes.

Olga Merediz’s portrayal of Abuela Claudia will bring tears. Abuela had worked all of her life putting community first, and the crossing-over scenes were just fantastic. From the palm leaves backdrop on the subway set to the graffitied underpass/tunnel as she grapples with life choices in the dream sequence; true representation. These struggles last lifetimes and through generations, and that theme permeates throughout the film. You have to check your heartbeat if you are an American who doesn’t identify your grandparents or great-grandparents in this messaging. 

Nina’s story of leaving college due to feeling discriminated against and her father’s despair over struggling to pay for her education with his car service business is necessary. It was so nice to see the sheer honesty in her struggles at school, which are real, including the physical violence she encountered, how she was voiceless, and turned the tables to want to bring change and help her community. 

Daniela and Carla are a flawless representation of queer love so elegantly meshed throughout the film. From the very first scene with them waking up together in bed to their slow dance at the family dinner. Quiara Alegría Hudes shows what a traditional couple should be, based on love and not stereotypes or a one size fits all version of traditional.

Activism and political representation are central to the film and chronicled with facts on deportation, education, and basic human rights. Sonny’s disappointment in hearing undocumented persons struggle with access to a college education stirs emotions as he finds himself with similar issues and not being able to have a driver’s license. Still, his fearless will to survive is clear and a common thread in so many characters, not just one or two but all of them. 

While the film does touch on these very important political issues, some may feel that it seems out of place and abruptly inserted. But isn’t that how life is for those struggling with these specific issues of representation, immigration, racism, and inclusion? One has to continue to live and find the beauty in one’s culture despite these antagonizing truths. You might not be a citizen, get deported, lose contact with a loved one, and may not have access to basic education and identification, yet you still keep dancing. 

This film gives the entire culture the representation it deserves, and that is an understatement. We’ve seen the tropes, and a film of this magnitude can crush those long-aged stereotypes and judgment that comes with these sections of New York, including the stereotypes about DACA. It makes you think of all the amazing celebrity talent that comes out of the Bronx and Washington Heights as well. Having this musical stage play in a film format will reach so many people with such a great message. Everyone’s individual story and their will to survive despite oppression are elegantly told.

Hopefully, In the Heights will make people question why they may treat these immigrant stories, that they may have walked past or just simply passed over, different from anyone else’s coming to America.

In the Heights celebrates what a beautiful culture and people are truly defined by and what makes them whole. Where some see the glass half empty, they truly project the glass completely full. The ending was perfect, with Usnavi knowing exactly where he belonged. 

The weaving in and out of the Dominican Republic backdrop to ultimately show that Usnavi and the children were in the bodega the entire time was perfection. The film breathes life into a community of people and immigrants that for so long goes unseen. The brilliance of bringing together this caliber of direction and cinematography is magical and tells such a deeper story. They don’t leave one stone uncovered. In the Heights shows you what happens when you take time to see people outside of a closed mindset, you will see beautiful things.

In the Heights premieres on June 10 in theaters and available on HBO Max for 31 days from the theatrical release.