In November 2016, “Dear Evan Hansen” took Broadway by storm.
In 2018, the creators of the Broadway smash hit “Dear Evan Hansen” published a novel inspired by the musical.
Dear Evan Hansen Movie is in theatres now, and we’ve got our review. It’s not all sunshine and rainbows, but our Dear Evan Hansen Movie review doesn’t make it out to be quite the hot mess the vast majority of the internet is screaming it to be. And here’s why.
Photo: Universal Pictures
Dear Evan Hansen Movie Review – And Why it Doesn’t Matter What the Critics Think
Dear Evan Hansen,
Today’s going to be an amazing day and here’s why…
What happens when a letter that wasn’t meant to be found turns your life upside down? Critically acclaimed Broadway musicals Dear Evan Hansen is a story about just this. When senior Evan Hansen, who suffers with severe social anxiety disorder, is unexpectedly pulled into a family’s grief over the loss of their son, he’s simultaneously given a chance to experience something he’s never done before—simply belong.
But all of it is tied to a lie that he never meant to tell, one that would crush so many people along the way—that infamously troubled (and some would even consider a bully) Connor Murphy was his best friend.
The discomfort of never seeing life in full color, the pain of loss. The uplifting joy of new friends, of opening yourself up to new possibilities? The longer the deception goes on, the harder it is to come clean. Evan isn’t invisible anymore. Even the girl of his dreams—Connor’s sister, Zoe—has noticed him.
Connor’s mom and stepdad have taken Evan under their wing, almost like he’s their own child, desperate to learn anything they can about their son. As Evan gets pulled deeper into the swirling mess of emotions, he knows what’s happening isn’t right, but if he’s helping people, is it really wrong?
Photo: Universal Pictures
Evan believes he has found a purpose. He’s created a website in Connor’s honor to help people feel seen. Evan is more confident and he feels less depressed than he did until it all comes crashing in around him.
The idea that one simple lie leads to incredibly complicated and painful truths is at the crux of this coming-of-age story about grief, anxiety, depression, authenticity, and the struggle to find yourself and belong in the age of insta-communication paired with brutally devastating isolation.
Note to parents and trigger warning: Dear Evan Hansen Movie addresses serious issues including suicide, anxiety, depression, bullying, and the impact of social media use on our lives. Contains adult language, sexual innuendo/jokes, and references to drug use.
Photo: Universal Pictures
What Works with Dear Evan Hansen Movie Review
The story and messaging
It’s complicated. The messaging as a whole for Dear Evan Hansen movie is what makes it work. It’s not about being perfect, it’s about being good for its target demographic, and it accomplishes that. Honestly? Who gives a sh*te what a bunch of stuck-in-the-mud old critics think?
This movie isn’t about them and it isn’t for them. It’s for—and about—lonely, angsty teenagers trying to find themselves connecting with other lonely angsty teens trying to find themselves in the hopes of preventing tragedy like suicide.
While Dear Evan Hansen isn’t “based on a true story,” it is inspired by a real-life, traumatic event that happened in co-writer Benj Pasek’s high school in a Philadelphia suburb. The story was written to open dialogue and raise awareness. If one person doesn’t hurt themselves because of this story, then it’s a win.
The story explores the ramifications of contriving a role for yourself that wasn’t yours to claim, whether intentional or not. This isn’t an imaginary concept; these situations can and do happen, and as Pasek can attest, have happened in real life with serious consequences. Add this to the already complicated teenage years with social anxiety, access to alcohol and drugs, and 24-hour social media access, and parents and teens who already have a hard time communicating—it’s a mix for disaster.
Photo: Universal Pictures
Real talk on opening dialogue with your teens
While I’m on the topic of communicating and opening dialogue, let’s get real, like really real for a moment. As a parent of four teens, I can personally attest, navigating social media with teens isn’t easy. Since I work in social media, I’m pretty darn savvy, but you’d (maybe not?) be surprised by the stuff I see and hear kids are doing.
And if you thought for a hot minute kids were jerks when you were growing up? Amplify that by 800x with the advent of social media that can disappear the moment it’s been read. I. can’t. even. with the things I’ve seen. And these are things from “good” kids.
We have a very open dialogue with our kids about everything. We’ve also had challenges. Our kids are far from isolated incidences, but guess what? Therapy is beneficial for everyone, and if your kids won’t talk to you, maybe they’ll talk to a counselor. Or maybe they won’t.
Maybe they’ll seek self-medication for their social anxiety issues in the form of drug use (so easy in a green state). If you’re one of the “lucky” parents, your kid will eventually cry out for help before something super tragic happens.
But just remember that even when you think you know what’s going on with your teen, you probably don’t. They appear to be following the rules, their social media looks clean, their rooms have nothing of mention in it, their grades are good, they never miss curfew—but you know something is off and they just aren’t doing as well as you think they should so you keep looking for signs.
You teen tells you nothing is wrong. You suspect something. You try a counselor thinking maybe they’ll talk to someone else. They’ll eventually slip up and hopefully, it will be in time for you to help.
Photo: Universal Pictures
Updated plot, new songs, and live performances
Two new songs were written for the movie adaptation and they are great. They help round out the story “Anybody Have A Map,” “To Break In A Glove,” “Disappear,” and “Good For You” have been cut. I miss the first three but understand why they are eliminated. I never really liked “To Break In a Glove,” and skip it every time I listen to the Broadway Soundtrack, so I won’t miss that in the least. One of the new songs, “The Anonymous Ones,” is co-written by Amandla Stenberg.
Dear Evan Hansen Movie has a few plot changes that address holes in the musical and enhance some of the character backstories. Zoe and Connor Murphy’s dad in the movie is their stepfather, a man named Larry Mora (in the musical he is Larry Murphy). Jared’s last name has been changed from Kleinman to Kalwani in the movie to reflect the Indian heritage of the actor portraying him, Nik Dodani. Alana Beck’s character has also been expanded and it’s nice to see the dynamic between Alana and Evan broaden from the musical.
The other aspect about the movie that I’m surprised critics aren’t talking about more is the plot hole that’s been addressed from the musical (or maybe they’re just too busy whining about other things)
Dear Evan Hansen Movie has also retconned a plot hole from the Broadway show. In the movie, we see Evan atone and make amends for his poor choices, gets to know who Connor really was, and helps the family try to heal in real ways.
All of the music in Dear Evan Hansen movie is performed live, not recorded and dropped in. While this makes for imperfection, it allows for more real emotion, which is what this story requires.
Photo: Universal Pictures
What Doesn’t Work with Dear Evan Hansen Movie Review
As much as I’m a Dear Evan Hansen stan, I’ll be the first to admit the there are aspects of the story that can be problematic, and those don’t adapt well from stage to screen; this isn’t In The Heights.
The obsession with Zoe? It’s a little over the top. I get it. Listen, I’ve had an actual stalker with a restraining order. This is child’s play.
The omission-turned-lie about being Connor’s friend? Evan absolutely should have told the truth the first moment he was approached in the principal’s office. Stop beating a dead horse. That aspect of the story is flawed from its inception, but that isn’t the movie’s fault, that is the story from the get-go.
Perhaps it’s just more easily looked over with a beautiful stage performance? If you don’t want that story, don’t watch the movie. Or the musical. And don’t read the book. And dear God, don’t write a review about it.
Ben Platt. I adore Ben. Pitch Perfect, anybody? But as much as Ben Platt IS Evan Hansen, it is a bit hard to believe him at 27 as a 17-year-old high school senior. That said, my high school junior was unphased by him as a senior and “loved” that she got to see “the original Evan Hansen” perform. So there’s that. Again, so much of this goes back to who the demographic target is for this movie.
Photo: Universal Pictures
Is Dear Evan Hansen Movie Safe for Kids?
Frankly, if you’re asking that, I’m questioning your judgment already. Rated PG-13, I often wish the MPAA had something between PG-13 and R because there is a HUGE gap of content and maturity between those two ratings, so let’s discuss.
The short answer, Dear Evan Hansen Movie is absolutely NOT safe for kids. I wouldn’t dream of letting my child under 12 or 13 see this even with an adult. Older than that? Let’s talk specifics.
Photo: Universal Pictures
Why is Dear Evan Hansen Movie is rated PG-13?
Dear Evan Hansen Movie is given a PG-13 rating for “Some Suggestive References|Brief Strong Language|Suicide|Thematic Material.”
I added a note for parents/trigger warnings near the beginning of the review. Dear Evan Hansen Movie addresses serious issues including suicide, anxiety, depression, bullying, and the impact of social media use on our lives. Contains adult language, sexual innuendo/jokes, and references to drug use.
Suggestive References. You get some basic hand holding/kissing scenes. If you’re familiar with the music, you already know there are a few lyrics that are innuendo such as, “I rub my nipples and start boning with delight,” “…life without you has been hard…bad…rough, ” and “but not because we’re gay.” There are also just spoken lines with references to sex and being gay. Most of these include some sort of visual (hand rubbing on shirts, etc.) during the phrase.
Adult Language. As Captain America would say, “Language.” The school bus has nothing on this movie. I counted 2 F-bombs, 1 G*d, 1 d*mn multiple sh*t and he11, and loads of freak, crap & sucks. For older kids, language doesn’t phase me. I curse like a trucker, and my kids know if they ever get caught with something coming out of their mouths more than dang they’ll get a boot up a word that isn’t on this list.
Suicide & Mental Health. This is the biggest concern, and for obvious reasons, the two go hand-in-hand. In the movie, they are overt themes (they are in the book and the musical, as well). I shouldn’t need to say that this can be triggering. It is also dark, dark subject matter for kids, which is why IMO young teens have no business watching this Dear Evan Hansen Movie, and certainly not n their own, without a good parental dialogue before and after. Suicide and mental health are discussed ad nauseam in the movie (suicide stops short of seeing the actual act).
Thematic Material. Drug use of many types is rampant in the film. Again, if you’re familiar with the music, you already know there are a few lyrics that mention drug use such as, “Smoking drugs,” “smoking crack,” “if I stop smoking pot,” and “stop doing drugs.”
In addition to illicit drug use mentions, there are prescription drugs that are shown, discussed, and used both as advised and recreationally. The audience sees bottles & pills, hears names, sees use, and is told the purpose & effect of a variety of anxiety & depression medications. It’s a lot, especially if you have no idea what any of this is about. If you suffer from a mental illness or know someone who does, this may not be triggering—or it might.
Violence. There isn’t too much violence, and not bloody violence, but what we do get, is bullying. We see pushing/shoving, discussion of the time Connor threw a printer at a teacher, the threat of “killing” for no reason, anger/ yelling. There is mention of a “school shooter” in one scene, however, it’s spoken, not seen.
Runtime: With a runtime of 2 hours and 17 minutes, Dear Evan Hansen Movie is long. Young kids won’t want to sit through that anyway. Unless you have a young teen who is DEH obsessed, you’ll probably want to have 13–14-year olds skip it. 15- and 16-year-olds who are on the more mature side and capable of handling the darker topics discussed in the movie, this is probably an okay watch for them. 17 years and older, let them do their thing because you know they are going to sneak with their friends to go see it anyway if that’s what they really want to do.
Photo: Universal Pictures
Overall Thoughts Dear Evan Hansen Movie Review
Sometimes, movies don’t have to be “perfect” to be worthwhile or valuable as a movie.
The idea that one simple lie leads to incredibly complicated and painful truths is at the crux of this coming-of-age story about grief, anxiety, depression, authenticity, and the struggle to find yourself and belong in the age of insta-communication paired with brutally devastating isolation.
While the movie may be imperfect to some, it’s an emotional rollercoaster that makes it near impossible to walk away without finding pieces of yourself in Evan’s loneliness or search for belonging.
Whether or not it’s lacking in any of the key elements to be considered a “good” film is relatively subjective; one could argue the editing isn’t the best, but to say sound/music isn’t good because you simply don’t “like” musicals or someone’s vocal style is an impossibility for a chance of an objective review, and same with theme. Not a fan of the musical or book? Clearly, you won’t be a fan of the movie and there wasn’t any chance of an objective review there, either.
One of the things the movie reminds us is that the language we use when we discuss mental illness can be used to either challenge or reinforce the stigma that exists around mental illness. Dear Evan Hansen Movie provides an opportunity to take a critical look at the language that characters use to talk about mental illness and the consequences of the language they choose to use.
As a whole, the messaging of knowing you aren’t the only person to feel alone and unwanted goes a long way within the demographic that this movie (show/book) is targeted toward, and that is what matters the most. It’s opening doors to conversations that need to be had to save lives and that’s what’s important, not perfection in filmmaking.
You are not alone
If you or someone you know is in emotional distress or suicidal crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org to connect with a trained crisis worker.
Text with Crisis Text Line by texting HOME to 741 741
About Dear Evan Hansen
The breathtaking, generation-defining Broadway phenomenon becomes a soaring cinematic event as Tony-, Grammy-, and Emmy-Award winner Ben Platt reprises his role as an anxious, isolated high schooler aching for understanding and belonging amid the chaos and cruelty of the social-media age.
Dear Evan Hansen is in theaters September 24th
Runtime: 137 minutes
Director: Stephen Chbosky
Cast: Ben Platt, Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, Nik Dodani, Julianne Moore, Amy Adams, Colton Ryan, Danny Pino
Executive Producers: Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul, Michael Bederman, Stacey Minidich
Screenplay: Steven Levenson
Original Score: Dan Romer, Justin Paul
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