It takes two on brightening the summer with In the Heights, the latest from director Jon M. Chu.
The musical adaptation was supposed to take last year by storm, but for the same reason we didn’t get a lot of movies, it’s going boldly into a jam-packed 2021 summer movie season. And why not? The stage musical launched Lin-Manuel Miranda’s career, and with the infectious energy he infused into Hamilton and Moana (where he helped write the music), the movie is almost sure to be a hit. It follows a bodega owner in the NYC neighborhood of Washington Heights as he and his neighbors dream of bigger lives, all through fantastical song and dance numbers, of course.
The extravaganza is brought to us by Chu, who has some experience staging lavish eye candy from Crazy Rich Asians. He should also handle the songs with ease since he helmed two of the Step Up movies.
Set to break out is star Anthony Ramos, who’s had small parts in big movies like A Star is Born and Godzilla: King of the Monsters but nothing like this showcase. Co-starring with him is Leslie Grace and Corey Hawkins with appearances by Miranda, Jimmy Smits, and Marc Anthony.
At this point, we are all craving a good time at the movies, and that’s exactly what In the Heights is promising to be.
In the Heights is directed by Jon M. Chu and stars Anthony Ramos, Leslie Grace, and Corey Hawkins. It will be released in the US in theaters and on HBO Max on June 11th, 2021. For international release dates, click here.
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