By: Thatcher Reckner

Contributing Writer

Film Title: Tick, Tick…Boom!

Running Time: 1 hour, 55 minutes

Rating: PG-13

Year Released: 2021

Availability: Netflix

Do you ever feel like you’re not doing enough with your time here, or feel like your time is running out? This is one of the themes that “Tick, Tick… Boom!” grapples with beautifully. A story about life and passion, it’s a movie that makes you question whether you’re being led by fear or love. “Tick, Tick… Boom!” is an autobiographical musical by Jonathan Larson (the creator of “Rent”) that was adapted into a screenplay by Steven Levenson and directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda. The movie was released in 2021. With a star-studded cast including Andrew Garfield, Robin de Jesus, Alexandra Shipp, Vanessa Hudgens, and Joshua Henry, this movie really delivers on all levels.

“Tick, Tick… Boom!” follows the story of Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield), a struggling musical theater composer living in New York in the year 1990. The story opens about a week before Larson’s 30th birthday. He is grappling with the fact that he feels like his youth is ending without his accomplishing anything important; his only hope is a workshop of the musical he’s been writing for the past eight years called “Superbia.” While trying to find inspiration for the big Act 2 number in his musical during the week leading up to the workshop, he is pulled in several directions and ultimately needs to decide what he wants to do with his life. Does he want to follow his girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp) to another city for her new job, get a comfortable job in advertising like his best friend Michael (Robin de Jesus), or continue to write and make his art?

Playing Jonathan Larson, Andrew Garfield has truly done something special with this role. His acting is so natural and effortless in the film that it’s one of those times where I forgot it

was a performance and became truly invested in the character. The humanity that Garfield weaves into this role makes this character feel so relatable. From joy to anxiety to hopelessness, he really explores a wide range of emotions beautifully. Along with this, Alexandra Shipp as Susan does a great job of portraying a supportive girlfriend who is coming to terms with the difference of needs in her relationship. Robin de Jesus gives such a heartfelt performance as Michael, and gives us a glimpse into the life of a gay man in the early ’90s. Vanessa Hudgens and Joshua Henry round out the leading cast playing Karessa and Roger, two of Larson’s friends who also play Susan and Michael in the staged production of “Tick, Tick.. Boom!” within the movie, in which several scenes are shown.

Along with the acting performances, the vocal performances and score throughout this movie are brilliant. With playful songs like “Boho Days” and “No More” and moving songs like “Johnny Can’t Decide” and “Why,” this musical’s rock score is really a pleasure to listen to. Lin-Manuel Miranda did a great job naturally integrating songs from both the original “Tick, Tick.. Boom!” stage play, as well as other songs written by Larson to create a moving narrative. The songs feel very natural in the world of the story, and I was never jarred by the transition from speech to song like I experience with some other movie musicals. Though the rock/musical theater style of the songs may not be for everyone, I feel that there’s something for everyone within the lyrics of the songs.

In terms of story, this movie did a great job of making me examine how I wanted to spend my time here on this Earth. It shows that although it may be very difficult at times, if we love something, we have to do it. This message doesn’t just apply to artists, it applies to everyone who has a deep and burning passion in life, which is what I think makes the film so relatable. One of the main questions in the film is this: Are you being led by fear or love? I think this is something that everyone needs to consider as they make decisions about their lives. In the end, what will you really care about?

Overall, I highly recommend this film to everyone. With its clear direction, truthful performances, moving score, and thought-provoking message, I think this film is a really special one. Although the original story was written in the ’90s, its message is still just as important today.

Rating: 10/10

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