Featuring modern stage classics like "Waving Through a Window," the 2021 musical film version of Broadway's
Dear Evan Hansen
returns
Ben Platt
to the title role he originated in 2015. A tangled teen drama involving social anxiety, popularity, and a suicide note, its script was provided by the musical's book writer,
Steven Levenson
, who tweaks the ending, the importance of some of the characters, and omits four songs from the stage show ("Disappear," "To Break in a Glove," "Good for You," and "Anybody Have a Map"). Added to the song list is "The Anonymous Ones," sung by
Amandla Stenberg
(as Alana Beck), who co-wrote the song with original show composers
Benj Pasek
and
Justin Paul
. While the earnest tunes and weighty subject matter don't exactly get new life here, vocal performances are stellar by a cast that includes
Platt
and Broadway understudy
Colton Ryan
(as Connor Murphy) alongside Hansen newbies such as
Stenberg
Julianne Moore
, who gets her own song as Evan's mom, Heidi Hansen ("So Big/So Small"). With the exception of the irreverent "Sincerely Me," by
Ryan
,
, and
Nik Dodani
(Jared), the songs are so uniformly wistful, sincere, and pop-leaning that the five loyal, star-studded pop covers that close the 70-minute soundtrack don't do much to update the material. They include turns by
Sam Smith
SZA
FINNEAS
, an orchestral version of "Only Us" by
Carrie Underwood
Dan + Shay
, and an engaging, slightly airier "Waving Through a Window" by
Tori Kelly
. ~ Marcy Donelson