While stuffed into just one category, musicals vary so widely that each is almost a genre unto itself. Whether it’s Mary Poppins, Moulin Rouge, or even the one based off Silence of the Lambs (it’s real, Google it), trying to lump them together is like saying a lemon is an orange since they’re both in the citrus family. Their themes cover everything from nihilism to true love and even what you can do with a BA in English, but the only thing they really have in common is their characters bursting into song at random or even predictable times. In the Heights is none and all those things as it’s both sweeping drama and intensely personal as it reminds us that life doesn’t have to be perfect to be magical.
In the Heights tells the story of four generations of Latin immigrants in Washington Heights, Manhattan who are finding ways to make their sueñitos – their dreams – come true. For bodega-owner Usnavi (Anthony Ramos), this means saving up enough money to go back to the Dominican Republic to rebuild his father’s legacy. Nina (Leslie Grace) needs to find her own path in life even if it means disappointing those around her by not living up to their expectations. Vanessa (Melissa Barrera) wants to escape her dreary job as a nail stylist and find adventure in New York, and Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz) hopes that the lessons she has bestowed will continue to make a difference in the lives of those she has raised in the barrio. Their stories unfold and often unfurl in song over the hottest week of the summer as they learn that despite their differences, the family you choose will be there for you in ways you won’t always see or understand.
Lin Manuel Miranda is obviously known for Hamilton which many consider his magnum opus, but many were introduced to him in 2008 with this musical. While Hamilton is epic in scale, Heights is a slice-of-life look at people who often escape society’s notice since their day-to-day actions don’t shape nations or change the course of history. But there is something about this intimacy which makes them all the more interesting and relatable. Few of us will ever have to wonder what we would do to fight against tyranny, but the thought of disappointing yourself and those around you by not living up to your potential is a universal emotion that this film portrays beautifully.
Speaking of beautiful, the downtrodden streets come alive where the local swimming pool, a taxi dispatch, or even a piece of gum on the sidewalk can burst into life and color. The actors’ emotions and songs paint the screen like a canvas, and the portrait they create is truly a work of art to admire and get lost in. Humble though it may be, this world is teeming with life despite the struggles that intermingle with the joy. Sweeping the sidewalk outside of a nail salon probably isn’t anyone’s idea of paradise, but a sly smile from Abeula Claudia, or the thud of the heart after a sensual salsa dance is something we long to be a part of.
While In the Heights may never be as popular or successful as its big brother, it doesn’t mean that it is any the lesser for that. In fact, I would go so far as to say that I’ve always enjoyed it slightly more than Hamilton for the reasons I’ve listed above. I’m sure purists will bemoan the fact that a few of their favorite songs didn’t make the cut, but everything else captures what we look for in a movie musical and then sets the bar higher than anything seen before. Magic like this rarely hits the big screen, and it truly is a dream that all of us get to experience it. And yes, there are Hamilton Easter Eggs and a really cute and funny after-credits scene, so stick to the end!