In The Heights (2021)

Like a bomb-pop on a hot summers day, In The Heights is going to simultaneously prove to be as refreshing and cool as you'd expect this film adaptation of the hit Broadway play of the same name.  This musical drops us right into the middle of Washington Heights, right at the northern most point of Manhattan, there enters our hero with the voice of an angel and a heart of solid gold, Usnavi (Anthony Ramos).  He is a bodega owner/operator who takes care of his elderly neighbor, longs for his long time dream girl who works at the salon around the corner, and has dreams of winning the lottery and moving back to the beaches of his native Dominican Republic.  Things get turned around a bit for the shop owner when his childhood friend, Nina (Leslie Grace), comes back to the neighborhood after her first year of college with big news.  As these two listen to the sounds of the city all around them and all their neighbors, the friends slowly begin to realize that maybe a white sand beach isn't as great as the neighborhood that they grew up in!  Hamilton creator, Lin-Manuel Miranda creates a universe of musical goodness yet again and Crazy Rich Asians (2018) director Jon M. Chu helms this one.  Lucky for us too, one of the biggest musical numbers takes place at the community pool where Stephanie Beatriz and Melissa Barrera gives us a bikini song & dance number that'll put a "bomb-pop" in your britchers!