In The Heights: It Flies, But Doesn’t Soar! (HBO Max)

"In The Heights" is a fun-filled, up-beat, feel-good musical.  It was an award-winning Broadway stage musical and a big hit for Lin-Manuel Miranda, prior to "Hamilton."  I saw it at home for free on HBO Max, but, in retrospect, I now recommend that it be seen on the Big Screen (the 'BS').  The choreography was minimized by NYC always being in the background, so the dancers were too small on my TV.  The soundtrack would have been better at the theater, too.  The movie received excellent reviews as a successful adaptation of the stageplay, although I'm sure I would have liked the stage version better because I would have enjoyed the choreography more.  The film takes place in the Latino – largely Dominican – neighborhood in upper Manhattan, "Washington Heights."  I am very familiar with this neighborhood because I was a "Teacher of Swimming" at the George Washington High School indoor swimming pool during the summers from 1969-1972 to earn money to help pay for medical school. Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) lived in the Dominican Republic as a child, and his dream is to return there and rebuild his father's bar and restaurant.  For now, he earns his living by operating a bodega in Washington Heights, New York.  He has a crush on Vanessa (the beautiful Melissa Barrera) who hopes to be a fashion designer but is working as a hairstylist.  Living alongside them, Nina (Leslie Grace) is a brilliant woman who escaped the barrio and went to Stanford; however, she missed her community terribly and couldn't relate to the privileged white students there, so she doesn't want to return for her sophomore year.  It is also extremely difficult for her father to pay the expensive tuition.  Finally, Benny (Corey Hawkins) loves Nina and works for Nina's father. The film (a too-lengthy 145 minutes) tells their love stories amidst the socio-economic and political backdrop of the time.  Its message is about how friendship and community are powerful forces that can overcome considerable obstacles.  There are plenty of songs, which are often hybrids of rap, hip-hop, salsa, and merengue.  The actors and dancers are wonderful, but I thought many of the songs sounded too much alike.  I liked the film, but I didn't think it was great.  (Call me crazy, but I liked "La La Land" and "High School Musical" better.)  I don't think it's even in the same class with all-time classic "West Side Story," but viewers under forty will probably feel differently. If you don't like musicals, I'd pass; however, if you do, you'll probably enjoy it.  Why not take "a leap of faith" and see "In The Heights"?!