This movie is far too energetic, vivacious and optimistic. It needed to give the constant music and dancing a rest. And because of this, anything that could have been considered dramatic conflict just didn't come across as serious enough, making it very hard to connect with.
The biggest woes: spoiled girl doesn't want to stay in college, lead character frets about getting the funds to start his overseas business (which is told in flashback after he already has it), an exceptionally old woman dies of natural causes and the city has a blackout that they sing and dance their way through. Not everything can be fixed with a musical number. And after two hours, the songs all bled into one.
Oh and after the whole setup of the film, he just goes back to the Heights?! Well at least the salon moved because that was the only plot arc in the entire movie that literally went somewhere. I can see why this would work as a non-stop Broadway musical; on the stage it doesn't need to make sense and the characters/plot can stagnate as long as the performances of the score and choreography are captivating. But as a motion picture, this was tiring and wanting.
The biggest woes: spoiled girl doesn't want to stay in college, lead character frets about getting the funds to start his overseas business (which is told in flashback after he already has it), an exceptionally old woman dies of natural causes and the city has a blackout that they sing and dance their way through. Not everything can be fixed with a musical number. And after two hours, the songs all bled into one.
Oh and after the whole setup of the film, he just goes back to the Heights?! Well at least the salon moved because that was the only plot arc in the entire movie that literally went somewhere. I can see why this would work as a non-stop Broadway musical; on the stage it doesn't need to make sense and the characters/plot can stagnate as long as the performances of the score and choreography are captivating. But as a motion picture, this was tiring and wanting.