The Dear Evan Hansen Movie is a Terrible Adaptation. (Review)

The Dear Evan Hansen Film is a Terrible Story Adaptation.

So after months of controversy, the Dear Evan Hansen film released to... reception? Complaints towards the movie vary from various plot points to Ben Platt's performance. As a huge fan of the Dear Evan Hansen Broadway musical, having seen the show four times, I thought it would be worth analyzing this movie’s quality as an adaptation, as opposed to just a film. And spoilers... it wasn't pretty.

This is a video essay analyzing the Dear Evan Hansen movie’s success in adapting the Broadway musical. It utilizes a humourous, laid-back tone, while closely analyzing the imagery, story, and messaging of the Dear Evan Hansen story.

I had to export and upload six separate times guys I am exhausted I have been doing this for TEN HOURS before there weren't any issues I haven't slept I miss my bed.

00:00-02:35: Introduction
02:35-04:30: "Dear Evan Hansen" Synopsis
04:30-05:40: What went wrong?
05:30-06:50: The Movie's Response to Criticism
06:50-08:21: "Fixing" Alana.
08:21-13:32: The Second Connor Murphy Tragedy
13:30-15:00: Evan's Family Friend
15:00-16:22: This Movie's Saving Grace.
16:22-17:18: Changed For The Better?
17:18-19:45: The Ben Platt in the Room
19:45-21:19: Closing Remarks...?

[henn]

If they had only filmed the Broadway show, then Ben Platt would not be eligible for an Oscar, which is the whole reason this movie exists. He wants the EGOT. Unfortunately for Platt he is more likely to get a Razzie than an Oscar for his performance.

[fruitysoupy]

It's so satisfying to hear someone say they also didn't enjoy Ben's Evan
As someone with anxiety disorder his performance felt more like a caricature at times and it was really off putting to me

[caffeineandmemes]

I'm just confused because Ben Platt is so charismatic on stage. Watching the scenes of the stage musical, he really sells the awkward teenager with anxiety and a huge secret. Just his body language during the clip of 'Waving Through a Window' sells it. Yet, in the movie, he has all of the charisma of the guy in New York City selling weird pills out of his duster jacket

[imford]

Honestly, I'm a firm believer that Andrew Barth Feldman should've been cast as Evan. He would've brought so much to the character that, honestly, Ben Platt just couldn't. He's age appropriate, has experience with the character, and just overall is a really talented dude. I've got nothing against Ben Platt, but like this video highlights, his performance of Evan just falls flat when compared to the other actors who played Evan and those who played the other characters in the film adaptation

[dunnejos]

I can't understand how no one wasn't pissed off at the cutting of Good For You, Heidi's biggest number and the only song that holds Evan to the fire of Scrutiny.
Anyway, Heidi did nothing wrong and she's my favorite character in the play.

[kimc]

I agree that Connor being cut out of so much of the movie makes no sense, considering that he's (like you said?) the foil to Evan's character.

[username.not.known]

He's really mesmerising on stage. It's bizarre how he's so offputting in the film.

[lilren]

I’ll also never understand why the fake email exchange exists when every single email has a time stamp when you send them

[jspaingreene]

I'm fascinated to hear you talk about this since you knew the Broadway version so well and were a fan.

[arrow_of_ravenclaw]

The best parts of seeing this in theaters
1. Sincerely me
2. The girl who yelled “Sup theater nerds” as my friends and I entered.
3. The girl who gasped when it was revealed Conner killed himself. Like how did you go into the movie without this information

[foxfire]

👍 Thank you for pointing out that Indian people can be Jewish (or Jewish people can be Indian). I’m Jewish… so is Ben Platt, and his father is the film’s producer, so they surely knew they could’ve kept the Jared character Jewish and gay while played by an Indian actor (especially because Jewishness isn’t central to the character but still visibility/representation).

[gone]

Ok so while watching this I realized they definitely should've kept "Does anybody have a map", because it gives a slight insight to what Connor is actually like, we see him scream at Evan in the movie but that is the only proof that Connor is a bad person that we see as the audience.

[billvolk]

This movie was produced by Ben Platt's dad, making it a classic example of a vanity project. It really wouldn't have been made without Ben Platt, because it was made FOR him. So we know exactly who asked for this, and the answer is really funny.

[vaariiscaarii]

I honestly wish they just pulled a Hamilton and released the proshot or got Andrew Barth Feldman like *_CMON_*
Also I’d like to say I agree with this fully like-
This is probably the only review of the movie I like and 100% agree with lol

[amethystfox]

This review is the one most relate to
as someone who also has "totally seen a legal version of DEH, " I'm still shocked by learning about the changes they made. Like how did they think that cutting the first time we see Connor, interacting with his family, *The only other scene we see him alive*, was a good idea!? And I'm sad they cut out songs and put new ones in. Like you still get some character from multiple characters in Good for You (one of my favorites). And Connor wouldn't really do any "popular" dance moves cause it's mostly about the emails and the beat. And the portrayal of his "ghost" is just an amazing realization of that we really don't know anything about him. It's also kinda like Heathers with Veronica and the ones she killed. Just so many things that make me want to scream, just cuz they wanted Evan to be the main boi even though he already was. (we weren't going to forget he existed if anyone else important had a view)

[jeffreywillstewart]

I wonder how things are with his boyfriend Noah Galvin, who also played the role. It seems now selfish for Ben to not let Noah play it since he looks much younger and carried a TV show. I suspect some awkward dinner conversation. ( also why do all the songs have to have regular extreme high notes to show Ben's range?.)

[michaelkenner]

I think the problem is actors empathize with their characters and see the story from their character's point of view. It sounds like Ben Platt had a lot of creative influence over this film. So we end up with a movie that has a rosier view of Evan and makes him more central to the story.

[missm]

The reason they made his friend gay was because he made tons of homophobic comments in the musical. Because if a gay guy says it it’s perfectly alright, huh?

[youknow]

FINALLY someone mentions that adrew bart feldman could have very well played the role of evan, and also i 100 percent agreed that they should have just released a pro shot, it would have been so much better

[Jay-rcix]

It really seems like they cut side character heavy songs to put more spotlight on Evan (and Ben), which just made everything feel more shallow and incredibly one-sided