Tick Tick Boom! (Review)

 

It's hard to write this as someone who is not a musical theater buff and yet here I am reviewing Tick Tick Boom! In his directorial debut, Lin Manuel Miranda adapts Jonathan Larson's autobiographical stage musical for Netflix that tells the story of the days leading up to Larson's 30th birthday. Larson is known to be a revolutionary for musical theater after the one-night-only show that this movie is based on and his posthumous Tony-winning musical, Rent that ran on Broadway for 12 years. 

The film, like the original production performed by Larson himself, tells his point of view of the events that take place as he attempts to write the crowd-pleasing song for his latest creation called Superbia. In the days that lead up to his workshop to present the music and story to a potential producer, he strays his focus away from his friends and social life to write the missing song that leads to heartbreaking consequences.  

Tick Tick Boom is just as unconventional as Larson was he was when he was alive with its odd yet applause-worthy musical performances. The songs might not be everyone's cup of tea but unlike most mainstream musicals -- whether made for the screen or the stage -- the lyrics hit harder than the music itself especially since every word is based on Larson's actual experience on the situation. 

It is most likely easy to say that Andrew Garfield is the star of the film but there is no denying it. Garfield is a great actor and this musical does not disapprove him of that title. It was also surprising to hear him sing, and sing well as a matter of fact. Yes, he had a theater background but I had never seen him perform before. The rest of the cast was also great but everyone was clearly great supporting characters meant to carry Larson's struggle. Yes, they were all portraying real people in Larson's life but no one surprised me more as Alexandra Shipp did. I don't see her in many movies these days or in many memorable roles, but her role as Susan can be considered as a simple 'girlfriend' role but her singing voice and emoting during the "Come To Your Senses" performance was incredibly moving which also made the song my favorite amongst the soundtrack. 

The film, like Rent, featured the New York bohemian life during an epidemic through the eyes of creative genius that lived a life that was far too short. I enjoyed the music and the film itself but I'm sure that musical haters will have a problem with it either way with it being too unrealistic or... whatever the excuse is these days to avoid musicals. However, for the music lovers, catch Tick Tick Boom and celebrate Jonathan Larson the best way possible.