Dear Evan Hansen – Movie Review
ABC Film Challenge – High School/College Movies – D
Director: Stephen Chbosky (Wonder)
Writer: Steven Levenson (Screenplay)
Cast
- Ben Platt (Theatre Camp)
- Julianne Moore (Jurassic Park The Lost World)
- Kaitlyn Dever (No One Will Save You)
- Amy Adams (Arrival)
- Danny Pino (Mayans M.C.)
- Amandla Stenberg (The Hate u Give)
Plot: Film adaptation of the Tony and Grammy Award-winning musical about Evan Hansen, a high-school senior with social anxiety disorder, and his journey of self-discovery and acceptance after a classmate’s suicide.
Runtime: 2 Hours 17 Minutes
There may be spoilers in the rest of the review
Story: the movie starts as we meet the socially awkward Evan Hansen (Pratt). He struggles to get through each day at high school, using letters to himself to focus his mind. However, most days he is alone at school, barely noticed, until a chance clash with fellow outsider Connor (Ryan) changes his life.
When Connor signs Evan’s cast, he doesn’t think much about it. However, a tragic event sees Connor kill himself and Evan becomes seen as his only friend. Connor’s parents turn to Evan for stories about his life, and Evan struggles to tell the truth, finding himself drawn into a world he never felt comfortable in.
Verdict on Dear Evan Hansen
Dear Evan Hansen is a musical drama following a socially awkward teen dealing with a change in his life. After one of his fellow students commits suicide, he finds himself becoming the centre of attention. While he struggles with the new spotlight, he does see the good it does for other people struggling with mental health problems.
This is a movie which shows how difficult growing up during a newer high school era. It shows how disconnected people have become through changes in technology, which leaves people incredibly alone in life. This touches on suicide and how it can be caused by loneliness and how it could be prevented with a connection. It is an important subject to discuss and helps prepare everyone to learn people are always going to be different in life.
Where to Watch
Final Thoughts – Dear Evan Hansen shows the struggles to understand life extremely well.
