Perhaps it's because I haven't seen the stage musical, but I don't understand why there is so much hatred toward Dear Evan Hansen. Sure, it's a little sappy, and some of the musical numbers feel a little jarring when they begin, but overall I liked this movie. I think the story is engaging and the performances (yes, even Ben Platt's) are well done. I'd like to see the musical one day. However, in the meantime, I was glad to meet Evan Hansen and learn his story.
320 Reviews
Should've Been Much Better
sweidman-2801612 September 2021
"Dear Evan Hansen, today's going to be an amazing day and here's why..."
Dear Evan Hansen is a film adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical 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. Let's get the obvious out of the way. There's been some skepticism and hate surrounding the movie ever since the trailer dropped, mainly because Ben Platt (27) is playing a high school student. Is it distracting? Very. But once you get past it, he does give a good performance. Obviously, he knows this character well, much better than the movie knows itself. It's a shame because it doesn't match up well. From what I know, the story here is close to that of the stage performance. The only thing is there's a different understanding in direction. Stephen Chbosky has proven to be a good director in the past, especially with The Perks of Being a Wallflower. A task as big as this is hard not only because of the hype from the musical, but also because it's such a heavy subject to touch upon. This tries to be much more sympathetic with Evan, but as it goes along it's really hard to like him and some other characters. I wanted to feel bad for him because he's struggling, but choices made and the overall feel of the movie don't help with it.
The movie is a bit uneven. I liked it in pieces, but the flow can't get it right. Some scenes understand the right amount of emotion and tension. Those mainly came from Kaitlyn Dever, my favorite performance from the movie, and Amy Adams. They showcase the most amount of grief and anger that's understandable. Because most of the movie plays it too dramatic, it's nice to see a performance that can take away from that part. And the runtime may feel a little long, but once we get those scenes, it feels rewarding at the time. The amount of musical numbers isn't a whole lot and none are these big showy sequences with choreography, but I like that. I'm not sure if the stage performance is like that, but the lowkey nature of those numbers fits well. I wish I could say I liked Dear Evan Hansen more, but it falls short. It's one of those movies that I didn't mind but will soon forget. And maybe part of it had to do with the audience I watched it with, but I'll get into that in a second. Some people are going to connect with this and find it to be an emotional experience. And some are going to hate this because of the unlikable characters. This feels like an easy transfer to screen musical, but it's that easiness that made it weak.
Ok, so I got to see this early (last week) because I'm at an arts school. I know a few other schools had this opportunity as well. I was very disappointed with the crowd. A good majority we're already making fun of the movie before it started, and once it did it spread throughout the whole room. I understand that this movie is focusing on a tough subject and we all respond in different ways, but when someone is given the news that their son has died and then are grieving and going through a tough time, you should not be laughing hysterically. Sometimes it was hard to hear the movie because people were talking over it and basically mocking it. All I could think is since this is such an early screening and a privilege to attend, what if the director was there? Or if some representatives of the film were there? Luckily none were. It was almost embarrassing to be apart of it. People need to understand movie theater etiquette and how to compose themselves in a situation like this. I wish I could've experienced this in a different way.
Dear Evan Hansen is a film adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical 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. Let's get the obvious out of the way. There's been some skepticism and hate surrounding the movie ever since the trailer dropped, mainly because Ben Platt (27) is playing a high school student. Is it distracting? Very. But once you get past it, he does give a good performance. Obviously, he knows this character well, much better than the movie knows itself. It's a shame because it doesn't match up well. From what I know, the story here is close to that of the stage performance. The only thing is there's a different understanding in direction. Stephen Chbosky has proven to be a good director in the past, especially with The Perks of Being a Wallflower. A task as big as this is hard not only because of the hype from the musical, but also because it's such a heavy subject to touch upon. This tries to be much more sympathetic with Evan, but as it goes along it's really hard to like him and some other characters. I wanted to feel bad for him because he's struggling, but choices made and the overall feel of the movie don't help with it.
The movie is a bit uneven. I liked it in pieces, but the flow can't get it right. Some scenes understand the right amount of emotion and tension. Those mainly came from Kaitlyn Dever, my favorite performance from the movie, and Amy Adams. They showcase the most amount of grief and anger that's understandable. Because most of the movie plays it too dramatic, it's nice to see a performance that can take away from that part. And the runtime may feel a little long, but once we get those scenes, it feels rewarding at the time. The amount of musical numbers isn't a whole lot and none are these big showy sequences with choreography, but I like that. I'm not sure if the stage performance is like that, but the lowkey nature of those numbers fits well. I wish I could say I liked Dear Evan Hansen more, but it falls short. It's one of those movies that I didn't mind but will soon forget. And maybe part of it had to do with the audience I watched it with, but I'll get into that in a second. Some people are going to connect with this and find it to be an emotional experience. And some are going to hate this because of the unlikable characters. This feels like an easy transfer to screen musical, but it's that easiness that made it weak.
Ok, so I got to see this early (last week) because I'm at an arts school. I know a few other schools had this opportunity as well. I was very disappointed with the crowd. A good majority we're already making fun of the movie before it started, and once it did it spread throughout the whole room. I understand that this movie is focusing on a tough subject and we all respond in different ways, but when someone is given the news that their son has died and then are grieving and going through a tough time, you should not be laughing hysterically. Sometimes it was hard to hear the movie because people were talking over it and basically mocking it. All I could think is since this is such an early screening and a privilege to attend, what if the director was there? Or if some representatives of the film were there? Luckily none were. It was almost embarrassing to be apart of it. People need to understand movie theater etiquette and how to compose themselves in a situation like this. I wish I could've experienced this in a different way.
An Unkind Camera Works Against the Overlong Film Version
EUyeshima4 February 2022
It's a shame when you see a Broadway show that worked so well on stage and then watch it choke on screen. It's not a complete misfire as director Stephen Chbosky provides a faithful adaptation here, but the intimacy of the camera works against the more stylized elements of the story including how the songs get inserted into the narrative. It's true that Ben Platt is too old for the role now, and he accentuates Evan's awkwardness in a way the camera magnifies uncomfortably. The central conceit of the story still stings, but it plays out way too long despite a stellar supporting cast that includes Julianne Moore and Amy Adams. Both actresses can really sing with Moore beautifully nailing her solo, "So Big/So Small".
Movie adaptation of the hit stage musical.
TxMike3 February 2022
Evan Hansen is in high school and suffers from a social disorder. He sees a therapist and at the doctor's urging writes himself letters, titled "Dear Evan Hansen." Thus the title of the movie. One day he prints one out at school (I immediately found myself doubting the wisdom of that) and while in line to retrieve it another student, an outcast of sorts, takes the letter. From that random event a whole series of unpredicted things happen.
Some people knock this movie because it has singing. At dinner Evan might break out in song rather than just talk. Or while walking down the hall of his high school. As well as other characters. People who object to that kind of movie will not enjoy this, they probably should have skipped it.
But for me the whole thing worked really well. It is a long movie at over 2 hours but it is so interesting my attention never wavered. As Even gets into hotter and hotter water by avoiding the truth we see other people being affected. In the end more good than harm is done but the story also presents a good case for just telling the truth, a series of little white lies, seemingly harmless, seldom turns out to be the best path.
My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library, we enjoyed it. Filmed mostly in the Atlanta Georgia area, the DVD has several interesting "extras."
Some people knock this movie because it has singing. At dinner Evan might break out in song rather than just talk. Or while walking down the hall of his high school. As well as other characters. People who object to that kind of movie will not enjoy this, they probably should have skipped it.
But for me the whole thing worked really well. It is a long movie at over 2 hours but it is so interesting my attention never wavered. As Even gets into hotter and hotter water by avoiding the truth we see other people being affected. In the end more good than harm is done but the story also presents a good case for just telling the truth, a series of little white lies, seemingly harmless, seldom turns out to be the best path.
My wife and I watched it at home on DVD from our public library, we enjoyed it. Filmed mostly in the Atlanta Georgia area, the DVD has several interesting "extras."
Powerful
kenzibit3 October 2021
A good story to be watched by the whole family. Has lots of lessons for both parents and kids. Ben Platt did a wonderful job with his performance in this movie, acting all scared and naive... I really admired that. The good selection of music and voice performances made this a worthy watch, highly recommend this.
See it on stage
adamsandel13 December 2021
As someone who loved the show on stage (3 times), the film is especially disappointing. While the play had vitality and humor to balance it's deeply moving content, nearly every scene in the film leans into the mournful tone until the highs and lows become one long low.
And while the characters on stage were flawed people barely struggling to keep it together, Platt, Moore and Adams all seem oddly self-possessed.
If you haven't seen it on stage, please do.
And while the characters on stage were flawed people barely struggling to keep it together, Platt, Moore and Adams all seem oddly self-possessed.
If you haven't seen it on stage, please do.
A good film that could have been so much better.
pms196226 September 2021
Before I get into the problems, I should start by saying overall it's a good movie, and I do recommend it. The performances are excellent. The acting and singing are first rate. Amy Adams as Cynthia is struggling so hard to believe in anything good about her dead son when her own husband and daughter have a very different view of who he was. She is blind to the truth and all but pulls the "big lie" out of Evan against his will. Julianne Moore makes a huge impact with a reduce role (from the stage play) as Evan's mother, and her live singing toward the end was a surprise and quite good. I wasn't bothered by the "actual" ages of Ben Platt or any of the other high school characters. But I can see why, if you're distanced from this film while watching it, you begin to pick it apart and wonder why you're not connecting more with the narrative. Here's why I kept pulling away ... and yeah, some spoilers ahead if you haven't seen the stage show on Broadway or on tour.
Something is "off," and I felt it right away. When you have a plot about a troubled teen who commits suicide, and the main character, also a teenager with mental issues, lies about their relationship, you know this is heavy stuff. You don't need to make it darker and more serious and more "troubled" in tone.
Note to everyone: "Darker" isn't better. "Serious" isn't better. It's not an automatic improvement. In this case, it's a major detraction and distraction.
I put the blame squarely on the director Stephen Chbosky, who is out of his league here. He doesn't understand how crucial "balance" is to pull off this story. The first mistake is starting the entire film with the main character's "I Want" song before we even know who he is. "Waving through a Window" is a tour de force for Ben Platt, but it really doesn't tell us everything we need to know about Evan in a nutshell. We can't get inside Evan's head before we're introduced to him on screen. I was stunned by that decision.
While this isn't a comedy by any stretch or means, there were some honest big laughs in the play, especially early on. Evan's quirkiness, lightning-fast self-deprecation, and lack of a filter on his remarks were spastic and endearing. He didn't walk around like a banished corpse from beginning to end. He does in the movie. Whatever youthful energy and humor that existed in the play has been sucked dry on screen, with the exception of "Sincerely Me." That's when I realized what was missing. That song and sequence give us somewhere to go when things begin to unravel, and in the quieter moments as well. The problem is that the rest of this movie is "quieter moments." The emotions are heavy, deep, painful, and always on display. Humor is an audience's bridge into this story and a way to relate to these characters, but there's barely any humor. Changing Alana's character is another red flag for me. Yes, Amandla Stenberg is fine with the material she's given, but her new portrayal of this reimagined character throws the balance off yet again.
Because we have so many realistic, painfully truthful, well-acted moments, the songs often feel forced or wedged into the scenes. Many of them come off as intrusive or abrupt, instead of as an extension of emotions and a deeper dive into a situation. If you're already in that "deep" why suddenly sing? Again, the balance is off.
See the movie. Many of these darker, heavier moments work really well. See it for the excellent acting and singing, and yes, I did wipe away tears more than once. But there was a much better movie to be made from this material. And I find that disappointing and a bit of a shame.
Something is "off," and I felt it right away. When you have a plot about a troubled teen who commits suicide, and the main character, also a teenager with mental issues, lies about their relationship, you know this is heavy stuff. You don't need to make it darker and more serious and more "troubled" in tone.
Note to everyone: "Darker" isn't better. "Serious" isn't better. It's not an automatic improvement. In this case, it's a major detraction and distraction.
I put the blame squarely on the director Stephen Chbosky, who is out of his league here. He doesn't understand how crucial "balance" is to pull off this story. The first mistake is starting the entire film with the main character's "I Want" song before we even know who he is. "Waving through a Window" is a tour de force for Ben Platt, but it really doesn't tell us everything we need to know about Evan in a nutshell. We can't get inside Evan's head before we're introduced to him on screen. I was stunned by that decision.
While this isn't a comedy by any stretch or means, there were some honest big laughs in the play, especially early on. Evan's quirkiness, lightning-fast self-deprecation, and lack of a filter on his remarks were spastic and endearing. He didn't walk around like a banished corpse from beginning to end. He does in the movie. Whatever youthful energy and humor that existed in the play has been sucked dry on screen, with the exception of "Sincerely Me." That's when I realized what was missing. That song and sequence give us somewhere to go when things begin to unravel, and in the quieter moments as well. The problem is that the rest of this movie is "quieter moments." The emotions are heavy, deep, painful, and always on display. Humor is an audience's bridge into this story and a way to relate to these characters, but there's barely any humor. Changing Alana's character is another red flag for me. Yes, Amandla Stenberg is fine with the material she's given, but her new portrayal of this reimagined character throws the balance off yet again.
Because we have so many realistic, painfully truthful, well-acted moments, the songs often feel forced or wedged into the scenes. Many of them come off as intrusive or abrupt, instead of as an extension of emotions and a deeper dive into a situation. If you're already in that "deep" why suddenly sing? Again, the balance is off.
See the movie. Many of these darker, heavier moments work really well. See it for the excellent acting and singing, and yes, I did wipe away tears more than once. But there was a much better movie to be made from this material. And I find that disappointing and a bit of a shame.
Better than the reviews...
bk75324 September 2023
Most of the bad reviews here seem to center around three things. 1) Evan is a bad guy, and this movie makes him a hero. (He's not, and it doesn't). 2) How could they cast a 28 year old in the title role? (Ben Platt actually looks almost young enough to BE a nervous high school senior so okay, I'll buy it). 3) What Evan did is the most horrible thing ever done, so I can't enjoy this movie. Get over it, he's a character in a musical. Movies are made about bad people and bad things all the time. Judge the film based on its merit, not on that nonsense. And the truth is, it's a mostly well done adaptation of a show which, despite the flaws of its title character, has a well-intentioned and serious societal message to send and hopefully be received. The songs are sad yet hopeful, Platt's voice is amazing, and the supporting cast does a very nice job. I read the reviews here, and they're unfairly low... this was actually a good watch with more depth than I expected.
People need to chill
doomedmac26 September 2021
It's ok... I guess
heyitsanname26 September 2021
I love DEH (the broadway show) with my whole heart, and I think this movie isn't THAT bad. I was expecting more, but I'm not disappointed. I loved everything about the plot, the characters, the songs etc... because it is the same as the original show. Despite these things, this film has some problems.
First of all, the cast is amazing: I know that there's some hate around Ben's age but for me this wasn't a problem. The problem is the way he's acting in some parts of the movie, because it was more "Broadway-ish" rather than "movie-ish".
From a technical point of view, some shots and transitions are... meh. Sometimes it gets messy, there's no aesthetic and the pain of the characters is not emphatized in the right way. I expected to cry, as I did multiple times watching the bootlegs of the broadway show, but nothing.
Another minor problem is with the songs. I sang every single one of them watching this, and I enjoyed every single minute of it, but if I didn't know the songs, I guess I would have been bored, because there's nothing interesting on screen. And I still mad that "Anybody have a map" didn't made it into the film.
Anyway I think the message of this movie is good, mental health is really important and I love this story... but, do I think that the bootleg is better than the movie? Yes, way better.
First of all, the cast is amazing: I know that there's some hate around Ben's age but for me this wasn't a problem. The problem is the way he's acting in some parts of the movie, because it was more "Broadway-ish" rather than "movie-ish".
From a technical point of view, some shots and transitions are... meh. Sometimes it gets messy, there's no aesthetic and the pain of the characters is not emphatized in the right way. I expected to cry, as I did multiple times watching the bootlegs of the broadway show, but nothing.
Another minor problem is with the songs. I sang every single one of them watching this, and I enjoyed every single minute of it, but if I didn't know the songs, I guess I would have been bored, because there's nothing interesting on screen. And I still mad that "Anybody have a map" didn't made it into the film.
Anyway I think the message of this movie is good, mental health is really important and I love this story... but, do I think that the bootleg is better than the movie? Yes, way better.
Some perfect moments
nancyldraper16 October 2021
First of all, this film is a musical. If you can't handle dialogue being sung, don't see this film. Second, this is not a classic musical with rousing show tunes and great dance numbers. This is a movie that sings stream of consciousness thought and the thoughts are angst driven. Those two disclaimers might, possibly, have detoured most of the haters away from the film. Otherwise, this is a film about struggles, false solutions, anxiety and eventually courage. I have a friend who saw this on Broadway over a dozen times, and it has won Tonys, a Grammy, an Obie and an Olivier. Ben Platt's vocal talents soar. The cast is stellar and the performances are solid. I think the highest praise comes from people who resonate with the character themes for they can speak to you in a very personal way. However, those moments come and go. There is not a consistent pace. I give this film an 8 (for perfect moments) out of 10. {Musical Drama}
Good movie from a great origin
ariqakbar30 September 2021
Watched some of the broadway that became film like this. For me, dear evan hansen was good movie, but it doesn't really stand from other this kind of movie. Doesn't really show this how much power this stories have with this movie delivery.
The fact that it have much more recognition must be what people disappointed about. They have expectation
Its a good movie for me.
The fact that it have much more recognition must be what people disappointed about. They have expectation
Its a good movie for me.
A Bit Messy
lucilleballer10 September 2021
While Dear Evan Hansen's score and music were always great, the subject itself bordered on offensive, and in fact was very offensive to many with mental health problems. The movie itself was horrible, just messy and kept these same problems that it always had.
And I don't care what Ben Platt thinks about originating the role and believing he's fully entitled to it: someone could have done it better in film.
It would be different if every scene was shot from twenty feet or more away the whole film, but it was not, and his age difference was incredibly visible. And bordering on uncomfortable as it's hard to see him as the age of (or anywhere remotely NEAR the age of) the character he's trying to play, and the characters who he is playing alongside. It hinges on creepy.
His released statement about his casting reeked of the obvious nepotism that got him the movie role, and the reason for the casting decision puts a fog over the whole movie and makes it difficult to watch - knowing that he feels too possessive of the role for anyone else to play it.
Anyways. Movie in general isn't great. If you like DEH, give it a watch, but it's not worth the general audience's time.
And I don't care what Ben Platt thinks about originating the role and believing he's fully entitled to it: someone could have done it better in film.
It would be different if every scene was shot from twenty feet or more away the whole film, but it was not, and his age difference was incredibly visible. And bordering on uncomfortable as it's hard to see him as the age of (or anywhere remotely NEAR the age of) the character he's trying to play, and the characters who he is playing alongside. It hinges on creepy.
His released statement about his casting reeked of the obvious nepotism that got him the movie role, and the reason for the casting decision puts a fog over the whole movie and makes it difficult to watch - knowing that he feels too possessive of the role for anyone else to play it.
Anyways. Movie in general isn't great. If you like DEH, give it a watch, but it's not worth the general audience's time.
Engrossing
Gordon-1125 September 2021
Entertaining but sloppy
lizarmstrong-6029310 September 2021
I certainly preferred the original Broadway musical to this film adaptation.
I found the beginning of the movie to be too sudden and choppy, and the editing to be quite abrupt at times.
It was often cringe-worthy when characters started to sing after or in between dialogue (ex. "Waving Through a Window" and "Words Fail") which could have been avoided.
However, I enjoyed the acting (especially from Platt, Dever and Adams who were expertly cast) and I felt the visual elements helped move the story along quite well.
Standout numbers in my book included the upbeat "Sincerely Me" and the heartbreaking "Requiem."
Overall, "Dear Evan Hansen" was entertaining and well-acted, however it felt sloppy and rushed at points compared to its stage counterpart.
I found the beginning of the movie to be too sudden and choppy, and the editing to be quite abrupt at times.
It was often cringe-worthy when characters started to sing after or in between dialogue (ex. "Waving Through a Window" and "Words Fail") which could have been avoided.
However, I enjoyed the acting (especially from Platt, Dever and Adams who were expertly cast) and I felt the visual elements helped move the story along quite well.
Standout numbers in my book included the upbeat "Sincerely Me" and the heartbreaking "Requiem."
Overall, "Dear Evan Hansen" was entertaining and well-acted, however it felt sloppy and rushed at points compared to its stage counterpart.
Speaks to the People Who Shut Up Long Enough
actaction24 September 2021
You'd have to be a special kind of elitist asshole not to feel the power behind this film's writing and amazing music. Ben Platt and Amy Adams are perfect in their roles. The filmmaking is a little simplistic for me, but the performances keep it going.
disappointment
oscardiotti20 September 2021
I was really waiting for the motion picture from the recent musical. Unfortunately I found it disappointing mostly from the musical and technical point of wiew. The story remains interesting and also it is interesting to present it to a young audience. Ben Platt is a great singer and plays his role well but Jiulanne Moore and Amy Adams seem to be in the movie just to attract more audience. With no sensibility at all the pruduction cut two of the best songs of the show: "disappear" and "anybody have a map" introducing and showing better the drama of the tale, chosing more tearful and melodramatic songs that weigh down the whole second part. I watched the movie in digital dolby, but also the quality of the soundtrack is low, having heard different examples of the songs from the net.
I don't understand the hate!
adammarkwalker-5706419 September 2021
I have never been so emotionally invested in a movie before. It was amazing from the direction to the music to the acting.
So what if he's older then the character he's playing.... It's called acting. Nobody has more experience with that character then Ben Platt.
I urge everyone to watch this movie with an open mind. Let it draw you in to the performances. You won't regret it.
So what if he's older then the character he's playing.... It's called acting. Nobody has more experience with that character then Ben Platt.
I urge everyone to watch this movie with an open mind. Let it draw you in to the performances. You won't regret it.
Haters Gonna Hate - Don't Listen!
newsie-6883225 September 2021
Seriously - Don't believe any of the negative reviews! Everyone is so worked up that Ben Platt isn't actually 17! Yeah, like older actors have never played teenagers before... Get. Over. It. Do you have no imagination?? This is Ben Platt's role and I can't imagine anyone else doing it and he knocked it out of the park! His emotional delivery while he sings is unmatched. You hang onto every word he is saying. Extremely relatable and believable. Does he look 17? No, not really. But I didn't even care because his acting was excellent and he IS Evan Hansen! Clearly if that is what you are fixating on, you were not at all getting the message. And yes, he (Evan Hansen) is a deeply flawed human being that isn't a hero or a good guy really, but that is precisely the point! I just can't even with these people that are hating on this movie for the story. Don't watch it then! It's been a musical for years... Did you do no research or even listen to it? This baffles me...
The only reason this film isn't getting a 10 is because of the songs they cut, especially "Anybody Have a Map?" I really wanted to see Julianne Moore and Amy Adams sing that song and it gives you more insight into the families before you get into the story. However, the song they added was really good and gave Alana's character a lot more depth. Also, the pacing was a bit off at times. I would be sad/crying one minute and then we are supposed to be happy, then sad again. I haven't seen the musical in person. I've watched it on YouTube, so it seems that is how the stage production is too, but it really wasn't that big of a deal to me.
Anyway, if you like the musical, you will LOVE this movie. I thought they did a great job with the message! Also, I'm pretty sure they were all live singing, which is super impressive. (If they weren't, they did a great job making it sound like they were!)
The only reason this film isn't getting a 10 is because of the songs they cut, especially "Anybody Have a Map?" I really wanted to see Julianne Moore and Amy Adams sing that song and it gives you more insight into the families before you get into the story. However, the song they added was really good and gave Alana's character a lot more depth. Also, the pacing was a bit off at times. I would be sad/crying one minute and then we are supposed to be happy, then sad again. I haven't seen the musical in person. I've watched it on YouTube, so it seems that is how the stage production is too, but it really wasn't that big of a deal to me.
Anyway, if you like the musical, you will LOVE this movie. I thought they did a great job with the message! Also, I'm pretty sure they were all live singing, which is super impressive. (If they weren't, they did a great job making it sound like they were!)
Shocker, a 30 year old can't pass for a teen
abudisofunny18 September 2021
If ever there existed a movie to highlight the importance of casting, this is it.
No matter how talented Ben is, it's just too difficult to concentrate on anything happening when a 29 year old who looks like a 40 year old is playing a 17 year old.
No matter how talented Ben is, it's just too difficult to concentrate on anything happening when a 29 year old who looks like a 40 year old is playing a 17 year old.
Have no problem recommending this film
callison-228 September 2021
Think this movie is better then many are suggesting. It's not the broadway production (which is more satisfying), but I am glad I saw it, I enjoyed myself. Julianne Moore is fantastic, and I wish they'd given Amy Adam more (her character is developed on Broadway). Poor Ben Platt - it seems he's the target for many critics, but I think the issue for him is that what works on stage, doesn't necessary work on film and I don't think he's yet figured out how to act for the camera. He is engaging on stage. But he's not terrible in this film as some suggest. Have no problem recommending this film.
Pain
laflinalex27 September 2021
Critics don't control your opinion
jackferreirathegamer24 September 2021
This original story speaks to people who truly feel alone in the world. The music makes you feel their pain and the words express it beautifully. I went into the screening with low expectations because of the critics, but I was blown away by the performances from the amazing cast. The direction and screenplay do what the stage can't, and that is why both forms are unique in their own way.
Rich or poor, popular or unpopular, everyone has their own personal struggle. If you see it in a movie theater, on Broadway, or on tour, alone, or with others, just remember the people in your life and tell them how much they mean to you.
Rich or poor, popular or unpopular, everyone has their own personal struggle. If you see it in a movie theater, on Broadway, or on tour, alone, or with others, just remember the people in your life and tell them how much they mean to you.
Powerful Emotional Journey
peterw121017 December 2021
Ben Platt is known for having a great voice, but his acting ability in this film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen is impressive and incredible. The story is really well done. As a watcher, I can feel the emotion of the characters through the screen. Now, the music is good, but I felt the transition between dialogue and music could've been better. But Dear Evan Hansen is a great film with multiple strong messages, I highly recommend people to watch this.
Overall, 7/10.
Overall, 7/10.
You Will Be Found
baileycrawly2 October 2021
Going into Dear Evan Hansen, it's almost impossible to ignore the critical buzz surrounding it. "Ben Platt is far too old to be playing the role," they say, or "This is a boring movie that's far too long."
While a song or two could easily have been cut from the film without making it noticeably poorer, the film didn't feel nearly as long as it ultimately is.
Ben Platt did a fantastic job in his portrayal of Evan Hansen ("Dear," to RuPaul fans), transitioning a role exclusively played on the Broadway stage into a feature film. The two are very different beasts, but Ben rose to the challenge and, with the exception of a single crying scene, he did exceptionally well. The crying scene is also an acting technique that would've worked well on stage but, unfortunately, doesn't translate to the screen quite as well.
The music is exactly what fans of the Dear Evan Hansen Broadway show would expect. However, this film relies too heavily on the Broadway format, where randomly breaking into song mid-conversation was completely acceptable. On the big screen, however, some of the segues into music felt abrupt and awkward, as though Universal demanded the film to be released 2 or 3 months before completion.
Overall, Dear Evan Hansen wasn't a perfect viewing experience. It's a flawed musical, but not nearly as bad as the general critical reception. The depiction of mental health struggle was well done, the message was as potent and powerful as the original production, and it was relatively well done.
Not a favorite film, but definitely worth a re-watch.
While a song or two could easily have been cut from the film without making it noticeably poorer, the film didn't feel nearly as long as it ultimately is.
Ben Platt did a fantastic job in his portrayal of Evan Hansen ("Dear," to RuPaul fans), transitioning a role exclusively played on the Broadway stage into a feature film. The two are very different beasts, but Ben rose to the challenge and, with the exception of a single crying scene, he did exceptionally well. The crying scene is also an acting technique that would've worked well on stage but, unfortunately, doesn't translate to the screen quite as well.
The music is exactly what fans of the Dear Evan Hansen Broadway show would expect. However, this film relies too heavily on the Broadway format, where randomly breaking into song mid-conversation was completely acceptable. On the big screen, however, some of the segues into music felt abrupt and awkward, as though Universal demanded the film to be released 2 or 3 months before completion.
Overall, Dear Evan Hansen wasn't a perfect viewing experience. It's a flawed musical, but not nearly as bad as the general critical reception. The depiction of mental health struggle was well done, the message was as potent and powerful as the original production, and it was relatively well done.
Not a favorite film, but definitely worth a re-watch.
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