Usnavi (Anthony Ramos) dreams of a better life whilst running a local bodega in Washington Heights, New York. But he is not the only member of the community to harbour a dream in this adaptation of the Broadway musical by Lin-Manuel Miranda. 

Sometimes there is nothing better than a big grandiose musical to uplift the spirits and In The Heights does not disappoint in this regard. Whether dancing on the side of buildings, an entire community performing synchronised swimming routines or dancing in the streets there is always another number just around the corner to mesmerise. Director Jon M. Chu (Crazy Rich Asians) and cinematographer Alice Brooks never let the source materials stage roots hem them in either with the song and dance numbers bursting at the seams with ideas. 

The stories within the film cover a diverse range of subjects as well. There are love stories, discussions on what makes a place your home, how local businesses form communities around them and what a community mean to different generations of immigrants. With every character having an aspirational dream moulded by all of the above. 

Performance wise for me there were three stand outs across a large ensemble. Whilst Anthony Ramos carries the film in the lead role I really felt that Leslie Grace and Melissa Barrera give the film its heart. 

If I had a gripe it would be the films pacing. There are some title cards that count down to an event during the film, but when the event arrives it is not the climax of the story. Simply a turning point with more to tell. For me it gave it an anticlimactic feel that led to it feeling long, something exacerbated by how many stories they are trying to tell. 

Overall though it is still a joyous film that makes you feel ready for summer.