Tick, Tick… Boom! [tick, tick… BOOM!] **** (2021, Andrew Garfield, Robin de Jesús, Alexandra Shipp, Joshua Henry, Vanessa Hudgens) – Movie Review

Lin-Manuel Miranda makes his exciting feature directorial debut in the 2021 American biographical musical drama film Tick, Tick… Boom!, based on the stage musical by Jonathan Larson.

Andrew Garfield stars as Jonathan Larson, who in 1992 performs his rock monologue Tick, Tick… Boom! in front of an audience at New York Theatre Workshop, accompanied by his friends Roger (Joshua Henry) and Karessa Johnson (Vanessa Hudgens).

He describes the ticking noise in his head and talks about the incredibly hectic week leading up to his 30th birthday, with the clock ticking while he tries to finish his show (he is one tune short of a show) and his desire to become a successful musical theatre composer before, well, before it’s too late.

Unexpected choice Garfield is very good, and Miranda’s direction most imaginative, making for a highly ingratiating movie, It is entertaining, flavourful and informative, capturing the essence of New York musical theatre, the highs, the lows, the ambitions, the disappointments. It’s a film about the creative process, writer’s block, writer’s dogged refusal to be silenced.

It’s a whole line of showbiz clichés in one way but it’s as fresh as a daisy in another. Garfield works his socks off, getting in close touch with his driven, not altogether sympathetic, character, and so does Miranda, both of them meaning every moment, and putting meaning into every moment.

It goes for relevance too, contrasting the AIDS virus pandemic with the Covid one. This is successful, there’s no sense of strain. ‘Why do we have to have a crisis before things change?’, it asks. Why indeed.

For all the rousing show music, this turns out not a happy story, though it is a hefty encouragement to work hard, be creative, and above all try to follow the dream, without letting other folks or mundane stuff get in the way. That all we have apparently, so we better make the most of it.

Miranda also cameos as a cook at the Moondance Diner, where Larson is serving, in time-honoured fashion. Also notable in the cast are Alexandra Shipp as Jonathan’s girlfriend Susan Wilson, Vanessa Hudgens as Jonathan’s friend Karessa Johnson, Judith Light as Jonathan’s agent Rosa Stevens, Jonathan Marc Sherman as Head of Musical Theatre Ira Weitzman, Joshua Henry as Jonathan’s friend Roger, and Bradley Whitford as Stephen Sondheim.

The original rock monologue is a semi-autobiographical work, partially fictionalized. The film’s script says that there are parts of the story that ‘Jonathan made up.’ This is a creative version of reality, then, a sort of heightened reality, digging out the true truths rather than the real ones. It’s only a movie, but it’s an excellent one, larger and probably a bit better than life.

It’s a pity that the gays are victim characters and that the film is not really about them – it’s musical theatre! But the film is gay friendly, with Robin de Jesús co-starring sympathetically, and quite movingly, as Jonathan’s best friend Michael, who has sold out to the advertising business. The gay characters are a little bit secondary and sidelined, though, with Larson shown as a sympathetic straight man.

Nice movie, though, with a sterling screenplay, striking musical sequences, a lot of heart and plenty of things to think about. Miranda and Garfield will be robbed if they are not honoured at awards time. The main triumph is theirs.

© Derek Winnert 2021 Movie Review

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