Hazel’s Hint on What to Watch: “In the Heights”

Welcome back! This week’s suggestion for what you should watch in your free time is a musical-based movie, “In the Heights!” This movie came out in 2021, and is on Max (Or HBO Max). The cast includes Anthony Ramos as the protagonist, Usnavi, Melissa Barrera as Vanessa, Ariana Greenblatte as Nina, Corey Hawkins as Benny, and more! This follows the story of these characters, who have lived in Washington Heights for most, if not all of their lives. Usnavi’s parents died when he was younger, and before they died they came to New York from the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean, where they had a bar at their home called “El Suenito.” Now, he is almost thirty years old, and he still has a dream of going back and fixing it up. Vanessa dreams of moving downtown and getting a fashion design studio and that it hopefully will happen “Any time now, any day.” Nina has come home from college out west at Stanford, but she has something to hide she needs to confide in her father. One night, when they go to a club party called “Festival in the Heights,” they are doing normal club things. Getting drinks, dancing, having fun. Nothing seems off. Until, flash. The lights suddenly all go out in The Bronx. A huge blackout. If you would like to know what happens and hear the great songs, I think you should go watch it on HBO Max. This musical, written by Lin Manuel-Miranda, has very catchy and entertaining songs I think lots of people will enjoy! I hope you like it as much as I did!