Review: Dear Evan Hansen

There has been a lot of buzz surrounding the film version of the Broadway Blockbuster Dear Evan Hansen. Some bad and some good. Being a fan of the musical and Ben Platt, I was excited to see what the popular musical would look like on the big screen. And I’m here to say this movie doesn’t deserve the hate it’s getting. 

Evan Hansen is a teenager suffering from anxiety and depression. His therapist tasked Evan to write letters to himself, almost like an affirmation saying why today would be a good day. Unfortunately, when the story begins, Evan isn’t having a good day at all. So he writes a letter that ends up in the hands of Connor Murphy, and that is where a lie starts, and this story starts to spiral. Connor commits suicide, and with him is Evan’s note. Now Connor’s parents believe Evan was his friend and beg him for stories of their time together. 

Evan makes horrible choices throughout the film that some could see as manipulative. I didn’t see it that way. To me, he dug a hole so deep he couldn’t get out. And despite the despicable lie, Evan gave Connor’s family something to hold on to. 

There is no fallout from his actions because they handled his case with care. The Murphy’s did not want something to happen to Evan, a boy whom they’ve become close to.

The story of Dear Evan Hansen is heartbreaking and all too real. It’s original and doesn’t shy away from a highly complex issue. The film was sincere in the way it addressed the feeling of being isolated. That is one thing that director Stephen Chbosky does well. That’s why I understood his attachment. However, the direction is where the problem lies. 

The reason why Rent worked well as a movie is because of how the story was told. One of my favorite scenes is when Rosario Dawson leaves the club, and the camera perfectly pans up as she raises her arms. Chris Columbus had a musicality that came across within the camera movements; Stephen Chbosky does not. 

Dear Evan Hansen needed a director that was able to breathe life into the musical numbers. Instead, the camera was stagnant, and the actors stood and sang. No movement, no drama, no feeling. Just stale with no creativity. That plus a muddy mix to the soundtrack, and you have a recipe for disaster. This is where Ben Platt saves the day. 

Ben Platt gave a performance for the ages through the grey that is the lighting, with a voice clearer than my skin. From his subtle nuances explicitly created for this character to his stunning vocals, Platt will have people walking out of the theater blown away. 

Ironically, the main complaint about this film is Ben Platt, with many saying he is too old for the role. This is a common thing in Hollywood; 30-year-old actors playing high schoolers. This includes other actors in this film that are the same age.

So is he too old? Yes, but that’s not the issue. Unfortunately, Platt was the victim of awful hair and make-up mixed with terrible cinematography. The lighting throughout this whole film was just wrong, and it did him no favors. Pair that up with a scene including a baby-faced Kaitlyn Dever, and you got an Internet meme.

I never minded Platt in the role; in fact, he carried the entire movie on his back. Dear Evan Hansen brought Platt fame, and he became the sought-after performance to see on Broadway. So it’s not that surprising that he would reprise the role. If Platt didn’t, fans would have also complained to see the original star. The film gives everyone a chance to see why he was the most talked-about performance on Broadway (besides Hamilton).   

This is an excellent story with phenomenal acting. Its fatal flaw is the direction and terrible hair and make-up. The subject matter may be too mature for some younger than 14. But, this is not just a story that kids or teens should see. Parents could benefit from the insight. Hopefully, Dear Evan Hansen will start a much-needed and vital conversation in many households.