In The Heights: Neon NZ Film Review

There's no denying the vibrant nature of Lin-Manuel Miranda's passion comes shining through from the get-go in In The Heights.

But it's accentuated by Crazy Rich Asians John M Chu's camera and eye for how to put together an eye-popping spectacle that sizzles like a hot summer should.

Over the 143 minutes run time (which does suffer from some bloat in the back half), In The Heights is the cinematic equivalent of a high blast of Vitamin D straight into your eyeballs.

It's the story of Usnavi (Ramos, a charismatic lead) who's spent his entire life in the New York suburb of Washington Heights but dreams of heading back to his Dominican Republic homeland - despite running a successful bodega in the hub of his community.

But when he gets his chance, it soon appears that not all as it seems, and with the temperature rising, and a city-wide blackout coming, the pressure is on Usnavi and his small circle of friends to make the decisions that are right for them.

Plot (and its few shortcomings in the final furlong) are largely irrelevant to In The Heights, Lin-Manuel Miranda's pre-Hamilton love letter to community, family and heart in New York.

There's a life-affirming vibe from the beginning, and while as with most musicals it feels like conflict is set up as high stakes early on and then summarily dismissed or solved in the final stretch, In The 

Heights manages to be more about the journey than the final destination.

And what a journey it is, thanks to the precision with which Chu has shot.

Large musical numbers bristle with energy, and high performance dancers; whether it's the dizzying opening which sees you meeting all of the residents, or a pool-set number that's got something in every frame that commands your attention, through to an almost-balletic piece on the side of a building, Chu's execution is severely on point, and yet never isolating to the casual viewer in any shape or form.

It helps that the young cast have a good chemistry, and appear on screen to at least have relatively strong pipes as well, giving the music a street-feel, an urgency and a toe-tapping demeanour which is hard to ignore.

And it's never been a more multicultural cast as well, giving credence to the 2021 push to get more diverse voices and faces on screen (even if there is a bit of an ongoing furore over the lack of Latinx actors cast within).

The overriding feeling with In The Heights is one of unbridled joy.

Its execution is uplifting, its performances are magnetic, and its pull is undeniable. It's the breeziest film you'll see all year, but it's never patronising to its audience - it's smart, sassy and electric.