In the Heights

Parents need to know that In the Heights is director Jon M. Chu's joyous stage-to-screen adaptation of Lin-Manuel Miranda and Quiara Alegría Hudes' Tony Award-winning Broadway musical about a group of neighbors who live in the same predominantly Latino neighborhood of Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan. Regular Miranda collaborator Anthony Ramos stars as Usnavi, a bodega owner whose shop sells a lottery-winning ticket and who introduces viewers to his friends on the block. The film chronicles the lives of hardworking, striving Latino and Black people and immigrants who dream big, navigating the odds to persevere and build a strong, supportive community. Language isn't frequent but delves into salty territory ("s--t," "ass," "goddamn," "skank," etc.). There are a couple of romances that include kisses and references to spending the night together, some wink-wink references ("he's got a big ... taxi!"), and social drinking by adults (as well as one character who's implied to have an alcohol dependency). A beloved character dies peacefully, and many others mourn the loss. Families who love Hamilton and Miranda's work will want to see his first tribute to the idea that "immigrants get the job done."