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tick, tick...BOOM! (2021) Review

Spider-Man Can Sing

SCORE: 91/100

Directed by: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Starring: Andrew Garfield, Alexandra Shipp, Robin de Jesus

Synopsis: On the cusp of his 30th birthday, a promising young theater composer navigates love, friendship and the pressures of life as an artist in New York City.


****BEWARE POTENTIAL SPOILERS AHEAD****


REVIEW:

I didn't think I'd like this film as much as I did. It's not every day that a musical captures my attention so thoroughly, at least none like this.

Let's get the obvious out of the way, Andrew Garfield is a revelation here. I'm pretty sure it's actually him singing through most of this, and he's fantastic. He injects so much emotion, depth, and care into this portrayal of real life playwright Jonathan Larson that it's astounding. I truly mean it that Andrew may be one of the best actors that people sleep on. 

Initially, I thought we were getting more story and detail about his conception of RENT, however as the film went on, I was happy that we didn't see much of it. It focuses, wisely in my opinion, on his conception of Superbia, his unproduced first musical, and frames it through his other production under the same name as the movie. It's a brilliant choice from first time film director Miranda, who clearly has a love and a passion for Larson's work.

The music, except for one moment I'll get to, is great. Again, I'm not the biggest fan of musicals (something I'm trying to change), but this music is effective, well-written, and very catchy. I was tapping my foot throughout most of the movie, and the song in the darkened outdoor theater? It deserves the biggest Chef's Kiss. 

My biggest critique is a moment that happens about halfway into the film. There's a fight between Larson and his girlfriend Susan, but it's being shown at the same time as a weird song about relationships. The song is very upbeat, almost something I'd expect from Disney, and completely undermined the serious relationship moment that was happening in the film. It felt out of place and odd, and took me out of the movie for the three or four minutes it was on. 

That's really my only complaint though. Aside from a few choices made by a first time film director that I didn't agree with, it is a thoroughly encapsulating musical that doesn't go too off the rails and stays on target. If you have Netflix, it's a surefire recommendation from me, and something you will not regret watching. I look forward to seeing it around Oscar season. 

Final Thought: tick, tick...BOOM! is an incredible musical with a tremendous performance from Andrew Garfield that rarely stumbles, and pays a laudable tribute to the man it's about.

Score: 91/100

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