A musical about writing musicals. Well that sure seems like a terrible idea, and yet, magic happens here. tick, tick…BOOM! is a delightful biographical study of the kind of person our society often mocks or accuses of self-sabotage … all because most of us have neither the balls nor the endless wallets to let artists be artists.
Yes, that latter part shouldn’t go unnoticed, but it’s not exactly relevant at this time.
Once upon a time, Jonathan Larson (Andrew Garfield) was a talented dreamer and nothing more. Hollywood tells me that these guys are a dime-a-dozen, however my television tells me that talent is still a rare attribute. Obsessed with the idea that his life will end if he remains unaccomplished by age thirty, Jonathan has put everything else in his life on hold. Compounding this inner feeling is that Jonathan’s first real break in life is almost upon him—studio time, actors, and musicians have been amassed to rehearse “Suburbia,” a musical Jonathan sampled and continues to write. Actual real life talents scouts will be present at the studio dressless rehearsal.
This would be a big deal for anybody. For a guy approaching his mythical make-or-break age line, this is his very life in the balance. Oh … and he hasn’t yet written the musical’s most important song. So there’s that.
Meanwhile, Jonathan’s girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp) got *gasp* a real job! But it’s not in NYC … and Jonathan really doesn’t know how he’ll live if his power and water aren’t being threatened on a daily basis. Believe it or not, Jonathan is a waiter and –believe it or not- waiting tables doesn’t really pay the bills, especially in NYC. Jonathan has thrown his life into this musical. His life that ends at thirty, which is just days away.
I cannot say the late Jonathan Larson was a favorite of mine. It’s fair to say I found five hundred twenty five thousand six hundred things to dislike about “Rent,” but I truly enjoyed tick, tick … BOOM!
As with all musicals, the music itself is the key. The lesson Jonathan learns in the film is “write what you know” which he takes to heart in numbers like “Johnny Can’t Decide” (about his own indecision), “Boho Days” (an upbeat party song about his mediocre lifestyle), and an especially clever number called “Therapy” which he satirizes in duet form his own relationship with Susan.
2021 has quietly been an excellent year for musicals. Dear Evan Hanson, Cinderella, In the Heights, Encanto have all proven winners … and Cannes loved Annette even if I did not … I hate to point this out, but at this rate, West Side Story is clearly the front runner to win Best Picture … again. Say, if it does, do you see a recycling of Best Picture winners in the future? Asa Butterfield is Lawrence of Arabia? Michael B. Jordan as Detective Tibbs In the Heat of the Night? How about Elliot Page and Timothée Chalamet revising Midnight Cowboy? No? Fine. Just enjoy these musicals, then. We might not have another year this big for a while.
Contemplation I now need to share
For all you aging youngsters out there
Getting down to the dirty
If life ends at thirty
That explains American health care
Rated PG-13, 115 Minutes
Director: Lin-Manuel Miranda
Writer: Steven Levenson
Genre: “A long overdue tribute to halftime itself” – “The Simpsons”
Type of being most likely to enjoy this film: Struggling musicians
Type of being least likely to enjoy this film: People who green light things
