Name: Screenwise
Author: Screenwise

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Screenwise Verdict

Here's the thing: Dear Evan Hansen tackles important topics (teen mental health, grief, social media performativity) but does so in a way that's both emotionally exhausting and morally murky. The protagonist lies to a grieving family for personal gain, and while the film gestures at 'this is bad,' it also rewards him with romance, viral fame, and a college fund.

The 2021 film adaptation was widely panned—Ben Platt (30+ at filming) playing a high schooler became a meme, the musical numbers feel stagey and awkward on screen, and at 137 minutes it's a slog. Critics and audiences alike found it cringe-inducing, not in a fun way but in a 'please make this stop' way.

For families, this is tricky territory. If you have an older teen interested in theater or mental health discussions, it could be a jumping-off point—but you'll need to do heavy lifting afterward to unpack why Evan's choices were harmful and why the film's resolution feels unsatisfying. The suicide theme is pervasive and handled with mixed sensitivity.

Honestly? Most families can skip this one. If you want to explore teen mental health, there are better, less ethically complicated options. If your kid loved the stage show, maybe, but prepare for disappointment—this adaptation missed the mark.

Age Fit

Best for older teens (16+) who can critically analyze morally complex situations and handle heavy suicide themes. Even then, it's more of a 'should we watch this?' than a 'let's watch this!' The stage show worked better; the film is genuinely hard to sit through.

WISE Breakdown

Wholesome

32

The film centers on a protagonist who deliberately lies to a grieving family about being friends with their deceased son, then escalates the deception for personal gain (attention, romantic interest, social acceptance). While it attempts to explore mental health themes, the core narrative models deeply manipulative behavior with insufficient consequences. The emotional tone is heavy and anxiety-inducing rather than uplifting, and the pacing drags across 137 minutes of increasingly uncomfortable situations.

Imaginative

38

As a stage-to-screen musical adaptation, it offers musical numbers and dramatic storytelling, but the film was widely criticized for lacking cinematic imagination—it feels stagey and constrained. The premise itself (social media amplifying a lie about suicide) had some originality when the stage show debuted in 2016, but by 2021 felt less fresh. It doesn't invite creative exploration or building; it's a passive viewing experience focused on watching someone dig deeper into deception.

Safe

35

This film deals extensively with teen suicide as a central plot device, includes depictions of severe social anxiety and panic attacks, shows emotional manipulation of grieving family members, and contains scenes of intense psychological distress. While there's no graphic violence, gore, or sexual content, the suicide theme and the protagonist's gaslighting of a bereaved family create significant emotional triggers. The extended runtime (137 min) means prolonged exposure to these heavy themes. This is not content that would be appropriate for a young child to stumble upon unexpectedly.

Enriching

42

The film attempts to address important topics: teen mental health, social anxiety, grief, and the performative nature of social media compassion. However, the execution is problematic—the protagonist's lies are romanticized and inadequately addressed, potentially sending confused messages about accountability. The 'moral' feels muddled: Evan faces some consequences but also gets many rewards from his deception. It could spark discussions about ethics and mental health, but requires significant parental framing to extract positive lessons. Entertainment-wise, it was poorly received (6.3 TMDB, widely panned by critics and audiences for miscasting and cringe-worthy execution).

Parent Info

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Why It Might Be Great

Opens conversation about social anxiety and mental health struggles in teens (though requires heavy parental guidance)
Shows how social media can amplify performative grief and virtue signaling
Musical format may appeal to theater kids who loved the stage version
Could illustrate the snowball effect of small lies becoming massive deceptions

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What to Watch For

Teen suicide is the central plot catalyst—this is heavy, triggering content
The protagonist manipulates a grieving family for over two hours with minimal consequences
Widely criticized for being painfully awkward and hard to watch (not in a good way)
At 137 minutes, it's a long sit through increasingly uncomfortable situations
The moral messaging is muddy—kids might not grasp why Evan's behavior is deeply wrong

Conversation Starters

"Why do you think Evan kept lying instead of telling the truth early on? What would you have done?"
"How did social media make this situation worse? Have you seen people perform grief online?"
"Do you think Evan faced enough consequences for what he did to Connor's family?"
"What does this show about the difference between mental health struggles and using them as an excuse for bad behavior?"

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