This film opens exclusively in theaters on September 24th.
When we go to see a musical on the stage, we expect a bit of exaggeration and artifice in the presentation. The numbers are big and the cast act out for those in the back row of the theater, delivering the material with a certain bombast. This kind of amplification can work in a film adaptation, depending on the story and themes being addressed. The new musical Dear Evan Hansen is a well-intentioned and earnest tale that addresses heavy subjects that include teenage depression and suicide. But while this tale worked onstage, its translation to the screen could be smoother.
Evan Hansen (Ben Platt) is a high-school student suffering from crippling social anxiety. As part of his therapy, he is told by his psychiatrist to pen motivational letters to himself. During one particularly bad day, Evan crafts a downcast note. It’s discovered and taken by another troubled loner named Connor Murphy (Colton Ryan). When Connor takes his own life, the letter is found and the community assumes that the deceased and Evan were close friends. In order to help Connor’s sister Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever), mother (Amy Adams) and step-dad (Danny Pino) deal with their loss, the lead perpetuates the myth. It quickly snowballs, with the outcast becoming a noted figure at school and a social media sensation. The lie becomes more difficult to maintain as he becomes close to the Murphy family and issues arise in his relationship with his own mom, Heidi (Julianne Moore).
With a stage musical, one can simply sing the facts and most viewers will be able to buy into the emotions and the story’s themes. However, when performed in the real world against an authentic school environment, questions about the plot and logic quickly arise. Some of Evan’s early choices seem unnatural and forced to get the plot moving. Many will be asking why every student is so quick to believe that Evan and Connor were best friends (especially given a couple of less-than-friendly public interactions early on)? And while mother Heidi is busy working late hours, she barely seems to register the tragedy that has occurred at school or notice her son’s growing bond with members of the Murphy family. As more and more oddities are witnessed, the story strains to suspend disbelief.
It’s a slick-looking movie, the songs are memorable and the cast are solid as well, doing their best to make up for the plot holes by belting out tunes. Platt played the lead in the original musical and has been given a difficult task in depicting a person taking advantage of a grieving family. Obviously, the character’s meek demeanor does, to a degree, help viewers keep watching and try to understand his reasoning, but it’s a hard sell. And while there are some somber notes to the songs, one or two of the early numbers come across as far too bubbly. Additionally, there are a few ill-written attempts at chuckles as Evan tries to pull a friend (Nik Dodani) into his scheme.
Another minor problem is that the star now appears to be too old for the part of Evan. The age difference isn’t a complete deal-breaker and other students have been cast older as well, but there are some moments where he stands out and looks far more like an adult than a teen. On a dramatic note, the movie tries to make amends for its lightness earlier in the feature. Evan is forced to explain his actions directly to others and make up for some misguided actions, leading to some interesting confrontations. It results in a couple of heartfelt moments and songs, but they never truly resonate in a moving or powerful way.
This film wants to deal with a lot of serious themes and issues, but there’s a certain falseness and gloss to the presentation that it can never quite overcome. Again, many of the concerns addressed here wouldn’t have been nearly as problematic on stage, but they’re much harder to overlook on film. The attempts of Dear Evan Hansen to deal with suicide and depression in a unique manner are admirable, but this adaptation ultimately feels inauthentic and awkward in its execution.