Tick, Tick…Boom! (2021) Movie Review
Even if you don’t know the name Jonathan Larson, you’ve probably heard of the musical Rent. For those who are not musical theater buffs, Larson wrote Rent. He died on opening day so he never got to witness the massive success that followed his creation. Tick, Tick…Boom! tells the story of Larson in the pre-Rent era. Larson (Andrew Garfield) is about to turn thirty years old and is feeling disappointed that he hasn’t had a hit Broadway production yet. He references Stephen Sondheim’s many successes before he turned thirty as a marker of how far behind he is.
Larson has been working on a musical entitled Superbia for close to eight years. To make ends meet he works at the Moondance Diner in SoHo. He has a few close friends including Michael (Robin de Jesus) who came to New York City to pursue acting but eventually took a more financially viable route in advertising. Larson’s relationship with girlfriend Susan (Alexandra Shipp) is a bit rocky as they both try to pursue careers that are pulling them apart. When no one is interested in Superbia, Larson faces a crossroads. His agent Rosa (Judith Light) encourages him to write what he knows. Larson begins to craft what will become Tick, Tick…Boom!
Director Lin-Manuel Miranda intercuts scenes of Larson’s “present day” life with scenes from his performance of Tick, Tick…Boom! This creates an interesting dynamic wherein we see future Jonathan reflecting on what’s happening in the present. A warning is needed for those considering watching this movie. This is a musical. A real musical where most of the movie contains people bursting out into song. If that is not your vibe, then skip it. The songs are nothing truly remarkable although there are some catchy ones that I enjoyed. My favorite was a small number called Boho Days that Jonathan sings with his friends at a party describing his living conditions. It’s a tiny song with simple hand claps but it was my favorite number in the entire movie. All of the songs have the hallmark Larson touch, cramming a lot of words into each verse and musing about the mysteries of life.
Much of Tick, Tick…Boom! is Jonathan reflecting on what life means and how he feels he is running out of time to make his mark on the world. This is made all the more haunting as we know that his death is looming closer than he even knows. As someone approaching their thirties I could identify with the angst of feeling like you’ll never arrive where you want to be. Larson yearns to create something great like his idol Sondheim. He navigates the pressures of giving up on his dream and getting a “real” job like his friend Michael. Larson is also dealing with the AIDS epidemic and several of his friends getting sick and dying. Much of this would be used as the inspiration for Rent but it is still touched upon in Tick, Tick…Boom!
While this is a truly entertaining adaptation of the theater version, what makes Tick, Tick…Boom! memorable is Andrew Garfield’s performance. He gives one of the best performances of his career and brings Larson to life. Garfield’s singing is surprisingly very good and he brings a fervor to the role that effectively translates Larson’s urgency to fulfill his dreams. If you enjoy musicals and like Larson’s style, then Tick, Tick…Boom! will be right up your alley.
You’ll like this movie if:
1. You like Jonathan Larson
2. You like musicals
3. You like stories about pursuing your dreams despite the odds
