REVIEW: tick, tick…BOOM! Pays Tribute to Jonathan Larson and the World of Musical Theatre
In November of 1991, American composer, Jonathan Larson took the stage at the Village Gate theater to perform his newest work, tick, tick…BOOM!. The musical, which featured Larson and his friends, Michael and Susan, as well as a small band, was an autobiographical show based on Larson’s life. Telling the tale of Larson as he prepared to debut his very first musical, SUPERBIA at a theater workshop. Larson put his life front and center to show what he went through, as a person and an artist, to see his first show come to fruition.
His performance of tick, tick…BOOM would eventually open the door for the creation of the musical that captured the world and made Larson the man theater kids would revere for ages, RENT. Sadly, Larson did not live to see RENT’s first Off-Broadway preview performance, but his legacy lives on today. Lin-Manuel Miranda has teamed with a stellar cast to continue Larson’s legacy in the film adaptation of tick, tick…BOOM! and what a fantastic film it is.
Miranda was right on the money with his direction for this film. He understood the material and had no problem taking the story from the stage to the big screen. Musical theater shows adapted to the big screen can have a whole host of challenges with the songs feeling more forced and the story not always translating well. Let’s be real, someone just breaking into song isn’t exactly realistic. In this film, it made complete sense. Miranda flowed seamlessly from one scene to the next and one song to the next. He certainly has strong experience in creating and bringing to life his own musicals, In the Heights and Hamilton, and he is also considered by many to be a creative genius in his own right. Whether it be a combination of this or simply, Miranda’s own dedication to Larson’s story, he made every scene pop.
Miranda also did a fantastic job paying tribute to Broadway. His inclusion of Broadway bests along with casting actual up and coming Broadway actors for his workshop scenes helped bring the story more to life. Miranda paid homage to those artists who worked their butts off, just like he and Larson did, to make a name for themselves under the Broadway lights. And because the film was shot during COVID times in 2020, he gave a job to many actors and actresses who were not working because Broadway had shut down.
Miranda wasn’t the only shining moment of this musical adaptation. Andrew Garfield was the clear standout. Portraying Larson, Garfield brought a carefree feeling to the role. Garfield was the sole lead in this film, and he carried it with ease. Whether it was a scene where he was agonizing over a much-needed song for his musical or trying not to screw up his relationships, Garfield was born to play this role and will be a high contender for this year’s award season race.
Garfield was joined in the film by Alexandra Shipp (Susan), Vanessa Hudgens (Karessa), Robin de Jesús (Michael), and Joshua Henry (Roger) and they are just as fantastic as him. Shipp and de Jesús’ chemistry with Garfield provided for some of the more heart wrenching scenes while Henry and Hudgens bring the much-needed musical theater vocals to this film. Henry, Hudgens, and Garfield brought emotion to every song they were featured in, but it was Hudgens and Shipp’s rendition of” Come To Your Senses” that will leave a lasting impression.
This film is not only a love letter to Larson, but it is a love letter to musical theatre. Larson was a creative genius, who was taken from this world way too soon and this film honors his legacy. For musical theater nerds, like myself, or for those just looking for a good time, I highly recommend checking this film out. If you are anything like me, you will be running out to download the cast album when all is said and done.
Grade: A+