Dear Evan Hansen
- Director: Stephen Chbosky
- Writer: Steven Levenson; Benj Pasek; Justin Paul
- Producer: Marc Platt; Adam Siegel
CGiii Comment
The only good thing about this train wreck is...Julianne Moore - and, she is criminally under-used.
Ben Platts 'plays' an uncharismatic, bewigged, all-singing, all-lying hobbit...with mental health issues and make-up that Hammer House would have been proud of. Yes, Mr Platt should not have been re-casted in his originating Broadway role - thanks Dad, [Mr Producer].
Dear Evan Hansen is all about the exploitation and sanitisation of a teen suicide...what!?! And...it's a musical to boot! The vocal gymnastics displayed by Mr Platt are impressive [the boy can sing]...but, it's all too, too much. These ain't gonna be songs sung at every karaoke around the world...unlike the songwriters' previous smash...The Greatest Showman.
There's a gay 'family friend' [again] under used as Mr Platt's comedy sidekick - and, this film desperately needed some light relief...between all the wailing, crooning, lying and cheesiness.
Yes, it is a dark tale which could have gone darker [but not with a hobbit]. There is absolutely no subtext to be had...although the subtext flies around more impressively than the vocal gymnastics. Alas, ignored.
Think about it...mom and dad find out that their socially awkward, dead teenage son had a secret friendship with a socially anxious hobbit...why all the secrecy? Perhaps...there was more to this friendship than meets the eye! You can see where this is going...fill in the rest. It would have made for a far better film than this saccharine-drenched, mismanaged, irresponsible ode to mental health.
Trailer...
The(ir) Blurb...
Film adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical by Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul about Evan Hansen, a high school senior with a severe Social Anxiety disorder, whose letter to himself, one that was not meant to be seen by others, lands into the wrong hands of a fellow classmate who, as a result, commits suicide. This incident sends Evan on a journey of self-discovery and gives him the chance to finally be accepted by his peers and live the life he never dreamed he could have.
Cast & Characters
Ben Platt as Evan Hansen
Julianne Moore as Heidi Hansen
Kaitlyn Dever as Zoe Murphy
Amy Adams as Cynthia Murphy
Danny Pino as Larry Murphy
Colton Ryan as Connor Murphy
Amandla Stenberg as Alana Beck
Nik Dodani as Jared Kleinman
Isaac Powell as Rhys
Avery Bederman as Isabelle
Gerald Caesar as Josh
DeMarius Copes as Oliver
Liz Kate as Gemma
Tommy Kane as Greg
Marvin Leon as Skye