Better Nate Than Ever | Find your place in the right place ★★★

Passionate about musicals, Nate, a 13-year-old teenager, dreams of performing on Broadway. Landing only a minor role in his school’s production, he secretly heads to New York with his great friend to audition. This is the beginning of an adventure that will open many doors for him.

Danielle Bonneau
The Press

Tim Federle drew on his own experience when writing the novel Better Nate Than Everreleased in 2013. Nearly 10 years later, after proving himself as a dancer on Broadway, co-writing the screenplay for the animated film Fernando and having designed and produced the series High School Musical, he himself brings his first novel to the screen. He does quite well, managing to communicate his passion for musicals while sending a message of hope to young people who feel excluded.

The feature film recounts with great humor the tribulations of young Nate, who tries his luck in New York with his inseparable friend Libby. The plan is to sneak out after he auditions for a role in the musical. Lilo & Stitch. His chance encounter with his aunt, who has been trying to break into Broadway for years and no longer speaks to her sister, will prove salutary in many ways. Because with the support of this clumsy aunt full of good intentions (a tailor-made role for Lisa Kudrow), the young Nate will gain confidence and deploy his talent.

This is a very first role for Rueby Wood, who credibly embodies the teenager with big ambitions, who is ridiculed for being different (in scenes often devoid of originality), but who refuses to get knocked down. Disney goes a step further than usual by repeatedly alluding to the fact that he is gay. Her membership in the LGBTQ+ community is increasingly accepted as the film progresses.

Libby, a hot teenager who wants Nate’s best, is played with great aplomb by Aria Brooks. The teenager, at first happy to be in the shadow of her best friend, also discovers her path, thereby broadening the subject of the film.

Several themes are indeed addressed throughout the adventure, such as friendship, self-acceptance and acceptance of others. Other aspects deserved to be better defined, such as the relationship between Nate’s mother and Aunt Heidi, whose reconciliation is barely touched upon in the scenes presented during the credits. This would have given greater depth to this still entertaining film, which is aimed at a family audience.

On Disney+

Comedy

Better Nate Than Ever (VF Nate’s World)

Tim Federle

With Rueby Wood, Aria Brooks, Lisa Kudrow

1:31 a.m.

★★★