‘In the Heights’ Review: Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Musical Is the Event of the Summer

In Jon M. Chu‘s In the Heights, the tunnel at the 191st stop on the 1 train is a metaphor for the space between life and death. Anyone who’s walked this tunnel—or indeed, who has walked any public transportation underground passage—will understand immediately the power, brilliance, and truthfulness of this scene. It’s not a scene that’s in the original Broadway show. It’s just one of many ways Chu perfectly captures the energy of—and builds upon—Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s Tony-winning musical. The final product is more than just a movie. It’s more than just a musical. It’s an event.

The lights go up on Washington Heights—a primarily Latino neighborhood in upper Manhattan—and we meet our lead character, Usnavi, played by Hamilton‘s Anthony Ramos. Usnavi owns and runs a local bodega, and through his customers, we meet the neighborhood. There’s the piragua guy selling shaved ice (Miranda, in a delightful fake beard). There’s Abuela Claudia (Olga Merediz, who originated the role on Broadway), who unofficially adopted Usnavi and others in need of parental figures. There’s Kevin Rosario (Emmy-winner Jimmy Smits), a cab company owner who spent his life savings to send his daughter Nina (Leslie Grace) to Stanford. Then there are the girls from the salon (Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, and Dascha Polanco), Usnavi’s cousin Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV), Usnavi’s best friend Benny (Corey Hawkins), and finally, Vanessa (Melissa Barrera), the girl of Usnavi’s dreams.

If your head is spinning from all those characters, fear not. Thanks to the original, whip-smart lyrics from Miranda, a clear book from screenwriter Quiara Alegría Hudes (who also wrote the show’s Broadway book), and distinct performances from the cast, you’ll never find yourself lost. Each character has their own sueñito—little dream, as Usnavi explains—that sets them apart. Usnavi dreams of returning to the Dominican Republic to reopen his father’s bar, Vanessa dreams of leaving the Heights to become a fashion designer downtown, Sonny dreams of becoming a legally documented citizen, Kevin dreams of his daughter getting the education he never had, while Nina dreams of carving her own path. And, of course, they all dream of winning the lottery.

All of this comes from Miranda’s 2008 Broadway musical, with a few changes here and there: a new character at the salon, the absence of Nina’s mother, a few changes in the song order, and so on. There are a few modern updates, too, like references to the Dreamer’s Act and the John Wick franchise. Every change works for the film, and more than that, Chu—best known for the 2018 summer hit Crazy Rich Asians—takes full advantage of the cinematic medium. The fact that it was shot on location in the real Washington Heights is everything. From the synchronized swimming with over 500 extras at Highbridge Pool to dancing in the street at the corner of Audobon and 175th, the community and crackling summer heat comes through with every frame.

And the production of these musical numbers. Each one feels impossibly more iconic than the one that came before it. Press-on nails clack out a beat on the salon table and wigs come to life during “No Me Diga.” Vibrant sheets fly off of buildings and through the air while Melissa Barrera belts out “It Won’t Be Long Now.” Ethereal dancers clad in white button-ups and Cuba fedoras create a visually striking image on the subway for Olga Merediz’s heartbreaking rendition of “Paciencia y Fe”—which might have been the standout number of the show if every number weren’t so dang good. Later, Corey Hawkins and Leslie Grace step off their fire escape and onto the side of a building for their dance number. All the stops have been pulled out for spectacle, and though it will stream on HBO Max the same day it opens in theaters, you’ll see why Chu hopes audiences will choose the big screen. This is the very best of what a movie musical can be.

As for the cast, there’s not a weak link. Ramos is the perfect choice for Usnavi, with a sweet face that draws you in and a confident voice that is even better suited for the storyteller’s raps than Miranda. Barrera, a Mexican actor previously known for her Starz drama Vida, slays on the dance floor and makes you fall in love with her, too. And 16-year-old Gregory Diaz IV is a particular stand-out as Sonny for his laugh-out-loud ribbing of his older cousin, and for his impressive verse in “96,000.” (It should also be noted that singer Marc Anthony gets a surprisingly sober cameo as Sonny’s dead-beat father.)

For those coming to In the Heights from Hamilton, there are few special treats— a few bars of “You’ll Be Back” for the hold music on the telephone, a hysterical rivalry between the Piragua guy and the Mister Softee driver. (I won’t spoil that one, but be sure to stay until the very end of the credits.) But In the Heights, which came first, is firmly its own thing. A movie of this level of quality and scope this grand ought to earn a devoted following that rivals that of the founding fathers’ musical. I have a feeling it will. In the Heights is the event of the summer. No one will want to miss out.

In the Heights opens in theaters—and will begin streaming on HBO Max for 31 days—on June 11.

Watch In the Heights on HBO Max