In the Heights

For those who missed it on stage, the big-screen adaptation of In the Heights provides an ebullient reminder of what all the Tony-winning fuss was about.

This cinematic rendering of Lin-Manuel Miranda’s first Broadway smash — before Hamilton launched him into the pop-culture stratosphere — faithfully re-energizes classic musical tropes with a scintillating contemporary vibrancy and a rich cultural specificity. It shines the spotlight on multilayered characters too often relegated to the background.

The film version immerses us in the blue-collar urban milieu of Washington Heights in Manhattan, as every frame overflows with affection for the predominantly Dominican neighborhood and its inhabitants.

Specifically, it follows the travails of an extended family during a scorching New York summer. In the days leading up to a widespread blackout, Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) aspires to sell his corner bodega so he can move back to the Caribbean and connect with his roots.

But that would mean abandoning his dream girl (Melissa Barrera), his impressionable younger cousin (Gregory Diaz IV), and the abuela (Olga Merediz) who raised him. Meanwhile, Usnavi’s best friend (Corey Hawkins) works as a dispatcher for a taxi service run by the struggling father (Jimmy Smits) of his Stanford-bound girlfriend (Leslie Grace).

Those contending that the story glosses over potentially provocative themes such as gentrification, undocumented immigrant rights, or racial profiling are missing the point. Rather than preach, the material celebrates American diversity without patronizing or turning heavy-handed.

Directed with visual flair by Jon Chu (Crazy Rich Asians), some of the film’s production numbers feel too gimmicky and frenetic. However, an elaborate sequence mingling lottery numbers and a public swimming pool is an exhilarating highlight. Plus, “Carnaval del Barrio” resonates as an exuberant anthem of unity.

The bilingual dialogue by Miranda — who has a recurring cameo as a happy-go-lucky street vendor — and screenwriter Quiara Alegría Hudes flows seamlessly between spoken words and genre-blending sung lyrics, often jumping between English and Spanish often in mid-sentence.

Cynics might roll their eyes at the film’s relentless optimism toward overcoming socioeconomic obstacles and chasing your dreams. Yet the charisma is infectious and the upbeat charm never feels forced. Ramos (A Star Is Born) tops an appealing ensemble cast.

Indeed, it takes much more than a blackout to dim the enthusiasm of In the Heights, which promotes a relevant, overarching sense of community and camaraderie that crosses ethnic and geographic boundaries.

Rated PG-13, 143 minutes.