{"id":969,"date":"2021-09-23T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-09-23T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-in-the-heights-bd\/"},"modified":"2026-03-21T18:56:07","modified_gmt":"2026-03-21T17:56:07","slug":"review-in-the-heights-bd","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.senses.se\/en\/review-in-the-heights-bd\/","title":{"rendered":"Review: In The Heights (BD)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

My introduction to musical artist and actor Lin-Manuel Miranda<\/strong> was in Mary Poppins Kommer Tillbaka<\/a>, where he portrayed a lamplighter<\/em> and friend of Poppins. At the time, I was unfamiliar with his work, but I soon discovered his significant presence on Broadway<\/strong>, particularly due to the acclaimed musical Hamilton<\/strong>. In The Heights<\/strong> represents a long-held passion project for Miranda, premiering as a Broadway musical in 2008. Plans for a film adaptation, potentially starring Miranda, were discussed even then, but various factors led to its postponement. Now, 13 years later, In The Heights<\/em> has been released on Blu-ray, presenting an opportunity to evaluate its cinematic execution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Usnavi (Anthony Ramos)<\/strong> operates a small bodega in the Washington Heights<\/em> neighborhood of New York City. He harbors dreams of returning to the Dominican Republic<\/strong> to renovate his father’s former bar. The narrative unfolds amidst a vibrant backdrop of dance and music, following a group of individuals in the community as they navigate their aspirations and contemplate their futures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have always appreciated musicals, and The Greatest Showman<\/a> stands out as one of the most compelling I’ve seen in recent years. That musical possesses a combination of elements: an engaging storyline (historical accuracy aside!), memorable music, and character development that resonates with the audience. In my assessment, In The Heights<\/em> lacks some of these critical components.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

While I attempted to engage with Hamilton<\/em>, I encountered a certain uniformity in the musical arrangements that I found difficult to connect with. Despite this, the production quality of In The Heights<\/em> is undeniably high. The direction, helmed by Jon M. Chu (known for Crazy Rich Asians<\/a><\/strong>), is competent, and the technical aspects are well-executed. However, the film struggles to evoke genuine emotional investment in the characters. One particular scene, where a daughter declines financial assistance from her father for college, had the potential for significant impact, but the underlying motivations remained insufficiently explored. The adage “show, don’t tell” applies here; simply stating the reasons is not enough to create a compelling connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, the film presents a narrative largely devoid of significant challenges. In the Broadway version, Usnavi’s store is looted during a blackout. While the power outage is retained in the film, it lacks any consequential conflict (perhaps a deliberate choice considering the looting associated with the BLM protests?). Like any film, a musical requires a structured narrative to captivate its audience; music and dance alone are insufficient. The absence of major defining events in the characters’ lives contributes to a perceived runtime of nearly two and a half hours that ultimately feels protracted. A more concise edit would have greatly benefited the film’s overall impact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Blu-ray release<\/strong> delivers stable and vibrant visuals with notable contrast, exhibiting the capabilities of the format. The audio presentation is even more impressive, featuring a Dolby Atmos<\/strong> soundtrack that enhances the viewing experience. In a music-centric film like In The Heights<\/em>, the soundtrack offers an exceptional aural experience, fully utilizing the potential of a home theater system. The disc also includes a variety of bonus features and sing-along versions of the musical numbers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In conclusion, while my critique may seem overly negative, it’s important to note that I did not entirely dislike In The Heights<\/em>. Despite reservations regarding certain structural elements of the narrative, the film remains a well-produced musical that provides a degree of entertainment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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