Movie musicals used to excite me. I loved the idea of getting to see something I’ve cherished on Broadway and Spotify come to real life on the big screen. But after getting such terrible movies like Cats and Dear Evan Hansen, I was starting to believe that maybe musicals only belonged on-stage. Into the Woods showed that there was some potential, but it’s still hated by many Stephen Sondheim fans. And after the success of Hamilton being brought to Disney+, I thought that might be the solution to this theatrical dilemma.
But then I watched Tick, Tick, BOOM! Guys —they finally did it. Finally, a good musical-to-film adaptation.
The first great thing TTB has going for it is its leading actor, Andrew Garfield. Although nowadays he’s most well-known for his performance as Spiderman, he’s actually a very talented actor and has taken on some serious roles—including some roles on Broadway. I personally got to see him in the play Angels in America and I cannot rave about his performance enough. I feel like this film expands his acting (and singing) abilities even further. This was the first time that Garfield sang, either on stage or film, but you’d never know it by listening. Although heavy autotune seems to be a requirement for songs in film, I felt like I was actually listening to him sing throughout the film. There were a few notes, of course, that sounded touched up, but the majority sounded like they just plain recorded him singing. That, along with his heartfelt portrayal of Jonathan Larson, makes this a performance to remember.
The other thing that really stood out to me about the film was the cinematography. It was a stunning film on visuals alone, and there were some creative ways to incorporate the flip-flopping between past and future. I feel like it felt new and refreshing, but reminiscent of old Broadway at the same time. There was one particular sequence that was clearly an homage to the musical Sunday in the Park with George, and honestly, it brought tears to my eyes. Every shot clearly had thought put behind it and it kept my eyes glued to the scene the whole film. And it seems like most other viewers feel the same. However, I feel like their adoration of the film may not entirely be due to its great acting and cinematography.
I feel like a large reason audiences have been so critical of movie musicals in the past is because they had such a strong connection with the musical before the film was released. If the filmmakers did anything different or changed any sequences, people would complain that it’s not following the original musical. If they don’t change anything, people would say they should’ve just recorded the show. Compared to other musicals that have been adapted in the past, TTB is not as well known. I think this meant that audiences came in with a blank slate and were able to simply enjoy the musical and film for what it was. This gave the film an advantage, and honestly, I’m really glad that it received the well-deserved praise.
Overall, I really enjoyed Tick, Tick, BOOM! I consider myself pretty well-versed with musicals (and movie musicals) and this film had all the right beats. Although it included all the same songs as the original production, it had its own twist on it that made it really unique. Whether or not you’ve seen a Broadway musical, I highly recommend checking it out on Netflix for yourself. I feel like it has something to offer for everyone and if you really like it, it just might inspire you to check out some of Jonathan Larson’s other work.
Spoiler Alert is an Opinion culture column used to give reviews for movies, television shows, or other related media.
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