Honestly, I don’t have so much of a problem with the casting of Platt. (I watch The CW.) He was amazing in the role on stage, and he certainly knows the character inside and out at this point. What I think is disappointing about the casting is that it implies a lack of ambition when it comes to this adaptation, helmed by directed by The Perks of Being a Wallflower‘s Stephen Chbosky, in general. One of the greatest elements of the stage musical was the way it used its set to depict social media. As Evan sings and the video of his speech goes viral, we see the internet deciphering it, responding, and spreading. It’s a visual, visceral experience, and the kind of depiction of modern social media life that mainstream media—from the stage musical to the movie screen—doesn’t tend to get right. We’re often left with some uninspiring shots of phones in people’s hands, which does not really replicate the immersive experience of social media. (This is why people freaked out about Sherlock, which pioneered a visual social media language—or at least texting and Google searching.) Dear Evan Hansen‘s stage version did this incredibly well, too. The movie adaptation, on the other hand, doesn’t seem interested in trying to replicate that experience for the cinematic experience in any real way. Visually, from the representation of social media to the way Evan’s everyday experience is shot, looks incredibly straight-forward, and that feels like a missed opportunity. Maybe, when producing a movie musical for an American public that is still somewhat averse to movie musicals, it’s the smart decision to play it safe here. But it’s the boring one too. The Dear Evan Hansen movie is scheduled to be released on September 24, 2021.
