Summer Vibes: IN THE HEIGHTS

Can you believe the origins of IN THE HEIGHTS goes back to Lin-Manuel Miranda‘s sophomore year as a student at Wesleyan University in Middletown Connecticut? How many people’s school projects actually win a TONY Award, go on to tour for years and then become a motion picture! And all this plays second banana to his immeasurable success with HAMILTON. Talented guy, who surrounds himself with other incredible talents, like Quiara Alegría Hudes who wrote the book and CRAZY RICH ASIAN director Jon M. Chu.

The film retains many stage-like elements, it’s very much a movie musical. The two main plots center around Usanvi (Anthony Ramos) he’s running his family’s Bodega, with the help of his young undocumented cousin Sonny (Gregory Diaz IV) but as much as Usanvi is steeped in the NY borough or “block” of Washington Heights, he has plans of returning to the Dominican Republic where he was born to run his father’s beach bar, which no longer really exists after so many years and hurricanes, but it’s his sueñito = little dream, a theme of the film. The only thing that may rival his want to go back to the DR, is his want of Vanessa (Melissa Barrera ) his crush from high school, a nail technician, who aspires to be a fashion designer.

The other main plot revolves around Nina (Leslie Grace) the whole block is so, so proud of her for making it out of the hood and attending her first year at Stanford University. None more proud than her self-made business man father, Kevin (Jimmy Smits) but Nina has not had a good year away. Her grades are fine, but the racial issues she’s been dealing with at school have her longing for home.

Then there’s B & C plots involving the the block’s Abuela (Olga Merediz – reprising her Broadway role). And the beauty salon where Vanessa works getting a new location uptown. Salon owner (Daphne Rubin-Vega) and two hairdressers Stephanie Beatriz (Brooklyn Nine-Nine) & Dascha Polanco (Orange Is the New Black) make for a lively Greek Chorus. I love Polanco, no matter what she’s in she pulls focus, in a good way, that girl needs her own show.

Basically “In the Heights” is endearing and energetic and does what it sets out to do, remind you that the Latinx people of this neighborhood count, have a voice, dreams, have stories to tell. And oh, they can also sing and dance!

T&T @LAMB rating: 3.5 outta 5

Thank you for checking another socially distanced episode of The Film Scribes Podcast. This week the scribes on deck Rich Heimlich (/comment), Stephen Silver (Splice Today, Philly Voice), Gary Kramer (Salon), and LeAnne Lindsay (Tinsel & Tine) are giving a rundown of their experience at this year’s “virtual” Tribeca Film Festival. Along with IN THE HEIGHTS the scribes deal out their hot takes from the films they caught from this year’s festival.

As always any feedback or questions can be sent to Filmscribes@philafcc.org to be discussed on a future show.