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source: Dear Evan Hansen

Ben Platt re-creates his Tony Award-winning role as Evan Hansen in this paean to teen angst and social media manipulation. Platt plays a high school senior with social anxiety disorder so he writes chirpy letters to himself every day spewing foolishness about how good the day will be. Suicidal Connor (a raving nutbag on the loose) steals a letter and then kills himself that night. When the letter is found (the letters are always addressed Dear Evan Hansen...) the delusional mother (Amy Adams) latches on to the nonsense idea that Connor and Evan had been secret friends. Platt then latches on to the idea as well since it suddenly gives him a spotlight as the school reels over the suicide (although no one knew the dead kid). He invents a friendship and insinuates himself into the dead kid's family and gets closer to his sister (the dour Kaitlyn Dever). This new family thing alienates him from his own mother (Julianne Moore, 20 years too old for the role). As the whole grief thing turns into a social media blast the lies start to be exposed and the whole things crashes around Platt. The silly orchard memorial Kickstarter thing made me puke a little. The songs all sound like they're being made up on the spot. Tuneless and with repetitive lyrics that hark back to their Broadway origins. Remember show tunes? These ain't them. Platt is made up via prosthetics and heavy make-up to look ten years younger, but with that curly hair-do he looks like a deranged Harpo Marx. And the whole rejuvenation makes him look like he has a hook nose. Moore, on the other hand, looks old enough to be his grandmother. Apparently they used all the film's make-up budget on Platt. Lastly, while Platt's "tic and twitch" singing style worked on stage, it's rather bizarre in a Hollywood close-up.

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.

I was fortunate enough to see Dear Evan Hansen at its premiere at TIFF. While I didn't have any expectations for the film going in, I left impressed. Ben Platt and Amandla Stenberg's performances were very strong in particular. I felt they were able to demonstrate their character's flaws in a way that made it apparent that these characters aren't meant to be perfect or looked up to. They're meant to be human. They make questionable choices, and they're met with the consequences for their actions. This was refreshing to see. Being a teenager who experiences anxiety and social anxiety myself, Ben Platt's performance of Evan Hansen hit home for me. I felt that the creative choices made (especially in 'Waving Through A Window') captured what it is like to experience anxiety. I appreciated that they presented anxiety in a way that didn't romanticize or sugarcoat it. Given that most teens aren't portrayed by teen actors (see 'Love, Simon', 'Riverdale', 'Fear Street', 'Outerbanks', etc) I didn't find their choice to cast adults in teen roles offensive. Everyone was able to hold their own as both actors and singers, so I couldn't ask for more in this regard. They also presented the musical numbers in ways that weren't forced or showy. I especially liked the way they approached 'The Anonymous Ones', 'Waving Through A Window', 'Requiem', and 'So Big/So Small', as they highlighted how each individual has different mental battles. I feel these numbers worked together to provide audiences with a worthy reminder that we aren't alone in our struggles. In my opinion, choosing Stephen Chbosky to direct the film was the right decision. Through this, they made a film that sticks with its audience: something touching that you'll think about days after watching it. I also appreciated how they ended the film in a way that is actually realistic/true to a real-life experience. All in all, I would recommend seeing this movie. At the absolute least, it will remind you to value and look out for those around you, and that you're not alone.