In the Heights

In the Heights

The story of Usnavi, a bodega owner who has mixed feelings about closing his store and retiring to the Dominican Republic or staying in Washington Heights.

  • Released: 2021-06-10
  • Runtime: 143 minutes
  • Genre: Drama, Music, Romance
  • Stars: Anthony Ramos, Corey Hawkins, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Olga Merediz, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Gregory Diaz IV, Marc Anthony, Jimmy Smits, Stephanie Beatriz, Dascha Polanco, Noah Catala, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mateo Gómez, Patrick Page, Olivia Perez, Analia Gomez, Dean Scott Vazquez, Mason Vazquez, Delila Ramos, Valentina, Christopher Jackson, Susan Pourfar, María Hinojosa, Ryan Woodle, Doreen Montalvo, Ilia Jessica Castro, Yesy Garcia, Jonathan Arana, Jennifer Hernandez, Amp Ngernrungruangroj, Bairam Rizai, Lavinia Jones Wright, Alexandra Campos, Rhapsody James, Ariana S. Gomez, Ariana Greenblatt, Hugh M Jones III, Luís Miranda, Javier Muñoz, The Kid Mero, Seth Stewart, Luis A. Miranda Jr.
  • Director: Jon M. Chu
 Comments
  • pinballwizard-83712 - 15 January 2024
    A WONDERFUL VISUALLY STUNNING MUSICAL
    Jon M. Chu's exuberant, visually stunning, cinematic adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda's brilliant Tony Award winning Broadway musical smash hit is an absolute delight and one of the finest and most enjoyable films of the year. It is a rich and touching story of dreamers and the challenges of the Latin American community in New York City's Washington Heights neighborhood in northern tip of upper Manhattan. The film's storyteller is Usnavi, sensationally played by Anthony Ramos who deilvers an impressive star-making breakout performance, he owns and runs a small corner bodega, selling cafe con leches every morning to his loyal neighborhood customers. He works with his little teenage cousin, Sonny, wonderfully played by Gregory Diaz, and lives with his beloved grandma Abuela Claudia, endearingly played by Olga Merediz, who reprises her role from the Broadway show, she raised him after the death of his parents. The shy Usnavi is in love with the gorgeous beauty shop worker Vanessa, terrifically played by Melissa Barrera, who dreams of being a fashion designer. Usnavi's best friend is Benny, superbly played by Corey Hawkins, works as a taxi dispatcher for his boss Mr. Kevin Rosario the owner of the car service, who is marvelously played by Jimmy Smits. Benny is in love with his boss's beautiful daughter Nina, remarkably played by Leslie Grace, who is the model straight "A" student and the star of the neighborhood that made it to the prestigious Stamford college but has dropped out and returned home in defeat, and must now find a way of telling her proud father. This magnificent life-affirming musical is masterfully directed by Chu, who gives his film jaw-dropping choreography with it's spectacular song and dance sequences, breathtaking cinematography by Alice Brooks, and razor shape editing by Myron Kerstein. Outstanding supporting performances by Daphne Rubin-Vega, Stephanie Beatriz, Mateo Gomez, James Leyva, Olivia Perez, and Marc Anthony. Special kudos to Lin-Manuel Miranda for his colorful scene-stealing cameo as the slightly pot-bellied Piragua (shave ice) man. In the Heights is an awesome celebration of Latin culture, pride, and community. A new classic.
  • jcfuller-00305 - 24 February 2023
    A joyous musical celebration
    I have to say, it is such a shame nobody saw this when it first came out, because it is an absolutely joyous blast! In The Heights combines relatable and easy to root for characters with an emotional drama and, best of all, some awesomely toe-tapping songs to create a 2 and a half hour musical journey that will take you through so many different emotions as you experience the lives of these dreamers from Washington Heights. I'd definitely recommend a watch if you haven't seen it.

    A very touching musical about dreamers, battling your circumstances, and the real meaning of the places that we all call home. Lin-Manuel Miranda never, ever misses.
  • Xstal - 3 April 2022
    As Honest as the Day is Long...
    As sweet as sugar spun candy, sets the tone for a modus operandi, with elegant rhymes, delectable chimes but the story's too long and has no key.

    A beautiful presentation of the brilliance of people but it just lacks a bit of oomph in the arch.
  • henry8-3 - 21 January 2022
    In The Heights
    Based in the Washington Heights one very hot summer, Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) dreams of returning to run his father's bar in his Dominican homeland. He is surrounded by family, friends and possible girlfriends all who are looking for something better.

    This is a extremely colourful, vibrant, toe tapping musical featuring a seemingly endless parade of fast and imaginative musical numbers (you only have to wait a few minutes for the next one) punctuated by a aspirational speeches about what could be. It is difficult to pin down the best, but I'd probably put my dollar on neighbourhood matriarch Olga Merediz's number about half way through - great song, visually stunning. If I was looking to be critical, it is long to feature so many lively numbers one after another for nearly 2 and a half hours, but this is being picky. Good fun and not a swear word in sight.