Dear Evan Hansen

By: Jamie Steinberg

Fair Warning: I’ve not seen the play “Dear Evan Hansen.” However, I don’t think it is necessary before diving into the film adaptation. Either way, we have all been teenagers at one time and we have all felt lonely. Here we watch from the outside as high school teenager Evan Hansen goes from being socially awkward to socially accepted to social outcast. For those who do sit down to watch the film, make sure to bring the tissues because once the movie gets going, you’ll need more than a handful to explore this bittersweet tale.

Maryland high school student Evan Hansen (Ben Platt – who also played the title role in the play) has social anxiety. He has one (family) friend (Nik Dodani) to confide in. His therapist has given him the assignment to write a letter to himself each day to build up his confidence. Of course, in every high school there is at least one outcast. No, that’s not Evan. It’s Connor Murphy (super nuanced Colton Ryan), who mixes moments of goodness with bursts of anger- occasionally torturing Evan. When Connor stumbles across one of Evan’s letters he angers at a reference in it to his sister Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever) and storms off with it. Evan is frantic that his letter will get out to the entire school as he believes Connor will post it on social media. After three days of silence Evan learns that Connor has taken his life. Connor’s parents come to meet with Evan at the school because they’ve found the letter – believing it to be written by Connor as a suicide note. Since Connor was so closed off, his parents (played brilliantly by Amy Adams and Danny Pino) think Evan will be able to connect them to their tormented lost son. Evan, who has always had a crush on Zoe, can’t bring himself to explain that he wrote the letter and that there is no hope for Connor’s parents to understand their son. So, through song, he provides them with faux experiences he and Connor shared.

Platt is known for his incredible pipes and his on-stage portrayal of Evan Hansen, so of course he shines in the role. When Evan is forced on stage by classmate Alana (Amandla Stenberg) to pay tribute to Connor, you will erupt in tears hearing him belt out anthem “You Will Be Found.” Also, a standout is Kaitlyn Dever as Connor’s sister, who delicately connects with Evan as she is desperate to relate with the brother that seemed too tortured to care about her. I’d be remiss though if I didn’t not mention someone I felt was miscast – Julianne Moore as Evan’s mom. Amy Adams felt right as the possible mother of two teenagers; however, I just thought Moore was a bit out of the age for the role.

Director Stephen Chbosky does a glorious job of bringing the play to life on screen. There are all of these little moments that offer glimpses into Evan’s façade cracking and allude to the truth he is hiding. The constant return to Evan climbing a tree and reaching for a branch that breaks. A closeup on Evan’s fingers twitching as he walks into the room to talk to Connor’s parents when the truth does come out. These are the little instances I noticed and felt were wonderful little foreshadowing scenes of what was to be revealed.

My only other point of contention comes when the credits roll. It isn’t until the very end that a notice appears encouraging those who are struggling mentally and/or having suicidal thoughts should reach out to the Suicide Prevention Hotline. I wish that was placed at the very end of the film before the credits so that those who watched the film could immediately be given a suggestion for whom to reach out to if they are in need of help.

With that said, Dear Evan Hansen is an incredibly poignant film. It hits grown adults with nostalgia of what it was like for us way back when. However, it also will spark a conversation between teens amongst themselves and (hopefully) encourage them to speak to their parents about anything that they’ve been suffering with in silence. For those who feel invisible, for those who lack confidence, for those who think no one cares about them…Even for those who don’t, I encourage you to watch Dear Evan Hansen because either way, you will be found.