Dear Evan Hansen

Director: Stephen Chbosky

Writer: Steven Levenson, Justin Paul, Benj Pasek

Starring: Ben Platt, Julianne Moore, Kaitlyn Dever, Amy Adams, Amanda Stenberg, Danny Pino, Colton Ryan, Nik Dodani

Reason for watching: It’s a new release and movie musicals are always good to see in a movie theater.

Number of times I’ve watched it: first time viewing

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If I was going to describe the movie musicals of 2021 I would go with the following pun: the Good, the Bad, and the Weird. And because I have already talked about the Good (shameless plug: check) and because I am not interested in talking about Adam Driver until The Last Duel comes out, it’s time to talk about the movie adaptation of a musical sensation that won a lot of Tony’s and has comments on teen mental health that are almost as bad as 13 Reasons Why. You guessed it. It’s time for Dear Evan Hansen (also I spoiled it by putting the title in my blog post).

Dear Evan Hansen is a musical dramedy about Evan Hansen (Ben Platt) (duh), a high school senior who is trying to overcome severe social anxiety. Part of his regiment is to write himself letters encouraging himself. One of his letters mentions how he wishes he could talk with his crush Zoe Murphy (Kaitlyn Dever). When he prints the letter and it is accidentally grabbed by Zoe’s depressed and unstable brother Connor (Colton Ryan), who takes it as a practical joke. Before Evan can explain the situation, Connor storms off with the letter. Several days later, Evan is called into the principal’s office to meet with Connor’s mother (Amy Adams) and step-father (Danny Pino), who tell him that Connor committed suicide with the note Evan wrote in his pocket. Believing this to be Connor’s suicide note, they ask Evan over to dinner to learn about their reclusive son. Evan cannot muster up the strength to tell them the truth and makes up a story after story about his friendship with Connor. He gets in the good graces of the family and even speaks at Connor’s memorial where he delivers a touching speech. As he becomes closer to the Murphys he begins dating Zoe and spends more time with them at the expense of the time he spends with his own mother (Julianne Moore). His popularity at school rises and he partners with the student body president Alana (Amanda Stenberg) to start a foundation in Connor’s name. The facade eventually unravels as fellow students begin to pick out inconsistencies in Evan’s stories. Eventually, Evan must face up to what he’s done and the trouble he has caused.

Largely, I am pleased with the individual parts of this movie. Acting-wise, this is a stacked cast filled with heavy hitters who can show finesse as well. Platt himself might be overacting a little, but as someone who is used to playing the role for a live audience packed to the brim, he can get a pass. Amy Adams falls into this category of trying too hard as well, but I have a part of me that thinks that’s what she’s meant to be: a mother who is desperately trying to cope with a child’s death. (I hope one day she can have that oscar so she doesn’t have to keep showing up as Lois Lane.) Kaitlyn Dever shines bright for the younger actors. Two years ago she showed off some serious comedic chops in Booksmart, and now she shows she can switch hit with the best of them. She is easily believed to be a non-mourning teenager who is confused about her feelings regarding her late brother. On the adult side of the age scale, Julianne Moore plays the strong and struggling Mrs. Hansen with subtly few actors can match.

The songs and their choreography are above average at a minimum. Some of them are not put together as well as others (see “Waving through a window”) as they can try too hard to match the rapid pace of the song with quick cuts rather than push in on the anxiety Evan or others are facing. Other songs blend the slower style originally intended for the stage with the different methods that movies can use. Particularly I enjoyed “Sincerely, me” and “Requiem.” The first capturing that classic song and dance style of older musicals; while the latter allowing the Murphy family to reveal their inner thoughts about Connor’s death. I have my gripes about the cinematography and the staging of certain scenes, but generally, they do a good job capturing the action and emotions of our protagonists.

But ultimately, I left this movie with a sour taste in my mouth. What I struggled with most was how I could connect with Evan as a protagonist. I understand he is unconfident and could easily be walking mat, even for good-meaning people like the Murphys. But creating this facade and allowing it to go as far as he did is selfish to a terrible degree. Near the end of our story, he even goes so far as to reveal the supposed suicide note to Alana to keep her from pressing too hard on how well Evan knew Connor. She posts it online to help the foundation meet its goal, and it brings even more negative attention to the Murphys. This is action is completely out of character for Alana as she has been built up as a caring and sympathetic friend of Evan. Furthermore, it brings about just how far Evan was willing to go to keep his charade up. I find this representation of mental health to be detrimental overall. And it’s what keeps this movie from scoring much higher in my book.

4/10

Until I see another one