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Ghost Canyon

Dear Evan Hansen [Blu-Ray Combo]
(Ben Platt, Kaitlyn Dever, Amandla Stenberg, Nik Dodani, Julianne Moore, et al / Blu-ray + DVD + Digital / PG-13 / 2021 / Universal Pictures Home Entertainment)

Overview: Ben Platt steps back into Evan Hansen’s shoes one last time with an incredible final performance in the powerful film adaptation of the remarkable generation-defining Broadway musical that broke records at the Music Box Theatre, DEAR EVAN HANSEN - available to own for the first time on Digital November 23rd, 2021 and on Blu-ray™ and DVD December 7th, 2021 from Universal Pictures Home Entertainment.

Blu-ray Verdict: Riddled with social anxiety, depression, and a cast on his left arm, Evan Hansen is a teenager who can never seem to fit in.

He writes letters to himself for motivation, in which one haphazardly falls into the hands of the troubled Connor Murphy, who takes his own life shortly after.

The Murphy’s believe the letter to be Connor’s suicide note, with Evan being his best friend. Rather than admit the truth that Connor was his bully, Evan goes along with this opportunity, netting him a newfound sense of popularity and affection from those that never once passed him a glance.

He also becomes an unofficial member of the Murphy family, with the parents taking him under their wing and their daughter, Zoe, developing a relationship with him.

But like all charades, the lie begins to spin out of control, tangling Evan and those he cares about in a web of deceit.

Tasked with bringing the stage play to cinematic life is director Stephen Chbosky, who recently had success with Wonder, about a boy with facial disfigurement, and the soon-to-be cult classic/greatest movie ever according to Tumblr, The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

Unlike the musicals mentioned in the beginning, Dear Evan Hansen doesn’t feature large group numbers on sweeping sets. Much of the action occurs in smaller, domestic locations, with the most exotic sets being a school gymnasium and a run-of-the-mill apple orchard.

And even when a song features more than one performer, they hardly share the same location, such as Requiem, where the Murphy’s are crosscut and folded on top of each other.

The film hangs its heart on the musical numbers, many of which have become anthems to a generation, especially You Will Be Found, which has become so iconic that it gets a special Sam Smith treatment during the credits, along with the familiar show-stopping rendition that occurs at the midpoint.

Schbosky shows middling prowess for the staging of these numbers, opting for the actors to sing live, filming them through extended takes and slower camera movements that accentuate the emotional pull of the material.

That stillness also acts as a double-edged sword, as there is a distinct lack of energy that makes the 137-minute runtime feel a lot longer than it is.

Ironically, the main problem that keeps this version of Dear Evan Hansen from being a sensation is not the cinematic qualities, but the story itself, which won Best Book of a Musical at the 2017 Tony Awards.

The problem (as a whole) with the story is systematic, with Evan’s actions being steeped in selfishness. Screenwriter Steven Levenson, adapting his own material, tries too hard to have his cake and eat it too as he attempts to scorn Evan’s actions while also finding the silver lining with a ploying message about friendship and grief.

The stage may have been able to cover this with its overpowering emotional tunes and acting, but the slowness of the film adaptation allows for that problem to fester until your sympathy for Evan has completely dried up and you just want him to get caught.

Fortunately, the actors aren’t too affected by the script’s problems. Reprising his famous role, Ben Platt proves once again that he was born to play Evan Hansen, despite his 27-year-old face and gangly body signaling that he should have perhaps stayed retired.

Kaitlyn Dever, who broke out in 2019 with Booksmart, often steals the show as Zoe. Dever finds the right amount of vulnerability as her character deals with the death of a brother she never had much respect for.

She and Platt make their relationship seem believable, despite the glaring age difference and underwritten romantic development.

Ergo, for my money, slightly misguided, but not without its merits, Dear Evan Hansen aims for the heart with pinpoint accuracy. There’s an emotional and sweet lesson buried under the creepy candy coating that is the central premise.

Once that obstacle is overcome (which is a big task), then there are enough powerful songs to connect with those that sometimes feel alone. Thus for 177 minutes we get loving spoonful’s of sadness, love, lyrics, music, script all wrapped up within some rather excellent acting and superb direction. This is a Widescreen Presentation (2.40:1) enhanced for 16x9 TVs and comes with the Special Features of:

• Songs To Be Seen – Journey behind the scenes to get an exclusive look at each song featured in DEAR EVAN HANSEN and what they mean to the cast and crew.
o Waving Through a Window
o For Foreverbr> o Anonymous Ones
o You Will Be Found
o A Little Closer

• Looking Through the Lens: The Making of Dear Evan Hansen: This making of showcases the filmmakers and new cast members that have come together within the Dear Evan Hansen family to bring such an incredible story from stage to screen.

From Costume Designer Sekinah Brown’s pieces to Jamaica Craft’s choreography, Director Stephen Chbosky’s insight and Beth Mickle’s production design - we see a holistic representation of the filmmaker’s production process.

• Stars In Our Eyes: For so many, this production was their first working environment after many months, in a time where we all felt the need for connection.

Witness the exploding artistry that came to life on set as both cast and crew began to find themselves again through collaborative creativity.

Just in time for the holidays, fans and newcomers alike can experience at home the emotional journey of self-discovery and familial relationships that take us back to our vulnerable teenage years and reminds us all of our inherent need for human connection, no matter how big or small.

Get ready to come a little closer to the entire cast and go behind the scenes with DEAR EVAN HANSEN on Digital, Blu-rayTM and DVD – with over an hour of brand-new bonus content including an in-depth look at the music of the film, one-of-a-kind mini documentaries with cast, Ben Platt’s personal reflection on his character, and a never-before-seen making of featurette with cast and crew.

Official Trailer

Official Website

Official Facebook Page

Official Twitter Page

Official Instagram Page

www.UPHE.com





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