Universal’s ‘Dear Evan Hansen’ tells audiences they are not alone

An advanced screening of “Dear Evan Hansen,” the highly anticipated film adaptation of the Broadway musical that premieres Sept. 24, was played in front of a sold out crowd in the Student Life Cinema (SLC) this past Friday. Although the film attracted mixed reviews, there is no denying that the messages presented within this story are incredibly impactful and important to comprehend. This film is quite the orchestra for the self-proclaimed outcasts, as the musical revolves around the realities of anxiety, depression and even grief. Although these topics may be quite difficult to translate on camera, “Dear Evan Hansen” informs audiences that they are not alone in dealing with these realities. 

Like many other attendees of the event, Talulah Biletzkov arrived interested as to how these subjects would be presented. Although she had never seen the play before, Biletzkov said that she “wanted to see if the film would portray an accurate depiction of the circumstances, without any glorification on the matter.”

Despite walking into the film with some misgivings, Biletzkov was content with the outcome of the representations of mental illnesses.

“Although everyone’s relationship with depression and anxiety is different, the film did a good job of illustrating the emotions relative to the main character’s life,” Biletzkov said. 

Cooper Lyon, the host of the event, understood that the film concerns heavy subject matter that many moviegoers may feel uncomfortable discussing. However, he said he believes that “the subject of mental health is a truly positive thing to raise awareness for.” 

To Lyon’s surprise, Florida State students arrived to the theater in droves, reaching the ASLC’s full capacity.

“It’s great that we had the turnout that we did,” Lyon said. “It shows that people are interested in seeing something surrounding these themes.” 

Despite delivering a strong message, “Dear Evan Hansen” is no mirror to the truth. In several circumstances, the film failed to evoke its intended reactions from audience members, resulting in many individuals chuckling at scenes meant for tears. This is almost entirely due to the way in which the vocals of the musical numbers are integrated into conversation. Although it is arguably difficult to have sincere moments transition naturally into song, the musical numbers felt as though they interrupted emotion, leaving some unsatisfied. 

Still, amongst this criticism, one alarming realization nearly entirely distracted some attendees from the film itself: why was Ben Platt casted as Evan Hansen? Granted, this may seem like the obvious choice, due to Ben Platt playing Evan Hansen on Broadway. However, since its Broadway release of 2016, the actor has aged quite a lot. In the theatrical release of “Dear Evan Hansen,” audiences are forced to accept a reality in which a twenty seven year old Ben Platt plays the role of a seventeen year old high school student. Many were left puzzled by the casting choice. 

“It doesn’t seem like he’s really in high school,” said Kristina Codriagton, a fan of the play. “It’s kind of hard for me to believe the story.” 

Aside from these criticisms, “Dear Evan Hansen” is a gentle reminder to check in with those who you love. The film encourages conversation concerning mental health; informing audiences that it is okay not to be okay sometimes. It may seem like you are alone in the struggles you encounter but just remember that you will be found. 

An earlier version of this story contained an inaccurate quote from an attendee, which has been removed.