Watch Dear Evan Hansen

Dear Evan Hansen is a 2021 American musical drama movie directed by Stephen Chbosky. This movie is based on the stage musical of the same name by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The movie stars Ben Platt as Evan Hansen, an anxious high school student, who unintentionally gets caught up in a lie that spirals out of control. The story follows Evan Hansen as he starts his senior year in high school with social anxiety and feelings of loneliness. His therapist has advised him to write letters to himself to cope with his emotions. These letters become the catalyst for the story as one letter falls into the hands of Connor Murphy (Colton Ryan), a fellow student who is struggling with his own mental health issues. When Connor commits suicide, his family finds the letter from Evan and assumes that Evan and Connor were close friends. Evan realizes that his letter can be the key to helping Connor's family heal and to fix his relationship with his own family.

Evan becomes entangled in a web of lies in order to keep up appearances of being friends with Connor. As he tries to keep up the façade of their relationship, he also finds himself becoming closer to Connor's family, particularly to his sister, Zoe (Kaitlyn Dever), with whom he has a romantic connection. As the lie becomes bigger and harder to maintain, Evan finds himself struggling with his own feelings of guilt and anxiety, while also coming to terms with Connor's death.

One of the most striking elements of the movie is the music, which is an integral part of the story. The songs, written by Pasek and Paul, offer emotional insight into the characters and are seamlessly integrated into the storytelling. The standout songs include "Waving Through a Window," "You Will Be Found," and "Words Fail."

The performances in Dear Evan Hansen are superb. Ben Platt, who also starred in the original stage production of the musical, gives a raw and emotional performance as Evan Hansen. His vulnerability and sincerity make the character easy to relate to and empathize with. Julianne Moore delivers a touching performance as Heidi Hansen, Evan's mother, and an understanding and empathetic parent to all. Kaitlyn Dever is excellent as Zoe Murphy, bringing depth and complexity to her character. Amy Adams also shines in a supporting role as Cynthia Murphy, Connor's mother, offering a poignant portrayal of a grieving mother struggling to make sense of her son's death.

In addition to the performances, the movie's cinematography is also notable. The beautifully shot scenes of Evan and Connor's letters floating across the screen are particularly effective in conveying a sense of connection and emotion. The use of color and lighting is also noteworthy, adding depth and texture to the story.

Overall, Dear Evan Hansen is a moving and heartbreaking movie that explores themes of mental health, grief, and the power of connection. It is a powerful and thought-provoking story that will stay with viewers long after they leave the theater.

Dear Evan Hansen is a 2021 drama. It has received mostly poor reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.1 and a MetaScore of 39.