Jackie Morgan

Having never seen the play, I had very little idea of what to expect. I'll admit, I was a bit disappointed to learn that it was a musical (not my usual preference for movies). That being said, the character of Evan reminded me very much of my middle son, who is on the Autism spectrum, as well as suffering debilitating anxiety and suicidal ideation. (I think Evan might be too). Anyway, the scene with his mom where she sings about the truck in the driveway sent chills down my spine and made me cry; it was exceptionally close to home. Because I hadn't seen the play, I wasn't missing the deleted songs that other reviewers have alluded to, so that wasn't problematic. Also, the character's age; I think he plays a very believable, very awkward and isolated teenager. The acting, singing, and sets are powerful and beautiful. The themes are so relevant to today's society, I kept finding myself wavering between empathy for the characters (even Connor) and the social commentary the film seemed to be making. I loved this movie, even though I hate musicals. Well worth your time and tears....