DEAR EVAN HANSEN Movie Musical - News & Discussion Thread- Page 31

[KFC1991]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 1:23pm

Kad said: "I mean, based on the reviews, Platt's believably as a high schooler is merely only the funniest of the film's issues."

It's always funny to me when a critic reviews an adaptation of a stage play and most of their issues are with the source material itself and not how it was adapted. Especially when the source material was highly acclaimed when it debuted on stage. 

[binau]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 1:28pm

Theatre Fan3 said: "I have an idea he probably thought that this was his chance to join the elite "EGOT" club. Well slim chance of that happening this time around. He does seem to come off as a bit of a "spoiled and entitled rich kid" but I can't help but feel a bit sorry for him that, after all the accolades and praise he received for his stage performance, that this is where it has ended up. What's the old adage ... isn't it "better to go out while you're on top"? Now, unfortunately, this will forever cast a shadow over his connection with the show."

Mmm I actually wondered if he and others thought this would be a Barbara Streisand Funny Girl type event for him. 

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 2:07pm

RENT?

Not even a little bit. Rent had already run for 9 years before that horrible film, it was for people who didn't want to bother seeing it on Broadway where it ran for yet another 3 years. It's also performed all over the world and probably always will be. 

So, nope. 

[Theatre Fan3]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 2:27pm

binau said: "Theatre Fan3 said: "I have an idea he probably thought that this was his chance to join the elite "EGOT" club. Well slim chance of that happening this time around. He does seem to come off as a bit of a "spoiled and entitled rich kid" but I can't help but feel a bit sorry for him that, after all the accolades and praise he received for his stage performance, that this is where it has ended up. What's the old adage ... isn't it "better to go out while you're on top"? Now, unfortunately, this will forever cast a shadow over his connection with the show."

Mmm I actually wondered if he and others thought this would be a Barbara Streisand Funny Girl type event for him."

That very well might have been their thinking but the time lapse between the original Broadway production of Funny Girl and the film version was only 4 years (probably only a 2 1/2 - 3 yr gap if you are going by when filming commenced) ... plus any aging in that time span was not nearly as much of an issue considering the characters age in the show.  I don't know how old Fanny Brice was supposed to have been during the time frame of the show/film but Streisand's age between stage and film wasn't nearly as obvious as Ben Platt's.

Updated On: 9/11/21 at 02:27 PM

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 2:31pm

There's a screenshot going around of a fake Hollywood Reporter article (at least I believe it to be fake, I can't find the real thing anywhere) sayin that there will be release of the film where Platt is CGI'd to look younger....

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 3:57pm

They could have done that. With CGI as good as it is these days, they could have de-aged him. If it worked in the The Irishman, it could have worked here. And those guys were deaged by decades.

His hair should have been cropped, like it was in 2017. He looked a lot younger. 

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 6:21pm

Lol, no. They never could have de-aged him for the movie. People understand how expensive that is right? That's if you wanted it done at all, let alone well enough that people wouldn't laugh at it just as much as they did his actual appearance.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 6:25pm

Yeah, you're right. He would have looked like a baby or something. And of course this film does NOT have the big old Netflix budget of $250 million. 

[gypsy101]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 6:37pm

Theatre Fan3 said: "That very well might have been their thinking but the time lapse between the original Broadway production of Funny Girl and the film version was only 4 years (probably only a 2 1/2 - 3 yr gap if you are going by when filming commenced) ... plus any aging in that time span was not nearly as much of an issue considering the characters age in the show. I don't know how old Fanny Brice was supposed to have been during the time frame of the show/film but Streisand's age between stage and film wasn't nearly as obvious as Ben Platt's."

Ben Platt left DEH in November of 2017 and the movie filmed in fall of 2020. very similar gap of about 3 years.

i agree with the idea the film might still be enjoyable (at least for me). most reviews i’ve seen hate the score and source material in general… i already know the score and sure it’s not Stravinsky but i really loved the score. the show itself i was always kind of meh on, it’s all a bit cringe but i did weep like a baby the first time i saw Words Fail performed. i’ll still give the movie a shot 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 7:02pm

I hope people remember this when they, no doubt, start bitching in the future about other actors who originated stage roles not being cast in the film. This is why. Seems like this will for the rest of time be used as the example of what not to do when casting.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 8:00pm

He would be in such a better place if he just had a cameo as a teacher or guidance counselor walking down the hall and gave a wink or smiled and the film were populated with actual teens. That would have been super cute.

He could then focus on promoting his album and tour. Instead he’s dealing with this steaming turd that has tainted what was a zeitgeist moment of a truly spectacular Broadway performance. His voice was astounding in the show and he sold out the entire run. The original run was a phenomenon. Now it’s attached to this turkey. He needed to leave well enough alone.

[ijest22]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 8:06pm

I feel like we’re rushing to judgment here. Most posters haven’t seen the movie yet, and a sizable portion of the reviewers hate the source material. Let’s wait to see it. Honestly, if it makes money, these initial bad reviews will be dismissed. Even if not, for those who love the Broadway show, it may turn out to be ok.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 8:10pm

I’m seeing it in a few days and I’m going in with a completely open mind.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 8:53pm

ijest22 said: "I feel like we’re rushing to judgment here. Most posters haven’t seen the movie yet, and a sizable portion of the reviewers hate the source material. Let’s wait to see it. Honestly, if it makes money, these initial bad reviews will be dismissed. Even if not, for those who love the Broadway show, it may turn out to be ok."

People are brutal on here about any movie musical. Making fun of Ben and tearing the movie down has become an Olympic sport on here. It's pretty pathetic. I'm seeing it very soon and I cannot wait, I think it looks great. And bad reviews don't really matter, just ask any failed movie that became a cult classic. 

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 9:00pm

The movie will definitely mean a lot to many and will be a favorite to many. It will be discovered by someone years and decades from now who it will touch. Box office truly doesn’t matter nor do critics. It’s just a shame that a lighting in a bottle stage performance has been marred by the push to make this film happen this way.

I plan on seeing the film as well as I really like score and I loved Ben’s stage performance.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 9:01pm

I could FEEL his anxiety and he sang beautifully while crying. It was a perfect, brilliant performance that he deserved every single accolade for. Not one male has ever come close to his Evan. 

[daisybeetle]

Posted: 9/11/21 at 11:36pm

https://www.gawker.com/culture/dear-evan-hansen-is-a-true-crime-story

Oy, this gawker review is brutal.

 

[ijest22]

Posted: 9/12/21 at 12:29am

I guess I’m waiting to hear a reaction from someone who liked the musical, the music and Ben’s performance (I believe there are a few of us in that  category), who has actually seen the movie, as to whether it’s a good film adaptation and how it holds up to the stage version. I have to dismiss any review that doesn’t like the music.  I like the music, and from what I’ve heard of the soundtrack, they haven’t messed with it too much. Maybe I’ll agree that Ben doesn’t convince on screen as a teenager, but so what?  If I can give a pass to Julie Harris, I’m open to this. 

[Owen22]

Posted: 9/12/21 at 4:01am

Well...apparently Stephen Chbosky is an as*hole..

https://twitter.com/epsteindara/status/1436533842203009026?s=19

[binau]

Posted: 9/12/21 at 4:15am

Is he? I don’t think the points he made were untrue - for me the only thing he might have improved is to make it clear that naturalistic acting is not objectively on top of the tree in all contexts (though it might have been implied) because on stage a film performance can come across as incredibly boring and wooden - and getting the balance right between taking it up a little for stage vs taking it over the top is a fine balance.

[BWNUT]

Posted: 9/12/21 at 4:39am

ACL2006 said: "The reviews haven't been kind at all. How does a Tony winner bomb out in the movie version?"

See also:  John Lloyd Young in Jersey Boys.

[bear88]

Posted: 9/12/21 at 5:00am

ijest22 said: "I feel like we’re rushing to judgment here. Most posters haven’t seen the movie yet, and a sizable portion of the reviewers hate the source material. Let’s wait to see it. Honestly, if it makes money, these initial bad reviews will be dismissed. Even if not, for those who love the Broadway show, it may turn out to be ok. "

I saw the preview again tonight. And maybe it will be a disaster, but so many of these harsh reviews just hate the plot. That’s been a source of controversy since the musical debuted, and we’re all familiar with the arguments.

The other big critique is Platt’s performance in the film and I can’t judge that. I haven’t seen the movie. It feels like critics are really gunning for him. Maybe he really is awful, but there’s something odd about the level of vitriol directed at a performance that got so much praise on Broadway. I saw the show at the Music Box 4 years ago. He was ‘too old’ then too.

I neither loved nor hated the stage musical. I am honestly curious about the film and think it’s very premature to label it a flop. The musical remains the biggest post-Hamilton new show in terms of popularity. It has toured very well in the United States. Postmortems about what went wrong seem to be getting ahead of themselves.

[A Director]

Posted: 9/12/21 at 5:03am

Sutton Ross said: "I could FEEL his anxiety and he sang beautifully while crying. It was a perfect, brilliant performance that he deserved every single accolade for. Not one malehas ever come close to his Evan."

So, have you seen every actor who has played Evan in every production of the show?  If not, how do you know?

 

[kidmanboy]

Posted: 9/12/21 at 7:15am

I really REALLY don't understand why everyone all of a sudden cares about 27 year olds playing high schoolers.  It happens quite regularly, and often with people I think look significantly older than Ben Platt does.

 

[bway0]

Posted: 9/12/21 at 7:58am

Saw Ben in DEH a few weeks before he was leaving and again a few months later with Taylor. I thought Ben was overall better in the role but I enjoyed the show both times. I’m not a movie person but I’ll attempt to watch it when it is released to digital download. Will report back.