The conflict between Broadway-loving tween Nate and his older athlete brother Anthony ( HSMTMTS’ Joshua Bassett) adds more layers to the isolation that Nate feels – as Anthony always condescendingly questions Nate’s choices in life. Not only does he feel out of place at school, but also at home.

Still, the message surrounding growing up and feeling out of place is there. Instead of feeling very grandiose like a musical adaptation, the film’s scale felt very small and contained – even during Nate’s dream sequences. Federle’s direction for the film feels like a longer version of a High School Musical: The Musical: The Series - and that’s not a bad thing. All Rights Reserved.Īlthough the acting is a bit cheesy and the musical numbers (except the final song) were forgettable, the film doesn’t forget who their target audience is - young kids and their families. Rueby Wood as Nate in 20th Century Studios’ BETTER NATE THAN EVER, exclusively on Disney+. Nate must pretend that he is given permission to be in New York in order to make it through to the final round of auditions. Hilarity ensues as he runs into his estranged aunt Heidi (Lisa Kudrow), a failed performer who left the family to attempt to make it on Broadway. That all changes when his best friend Libby (Aria Brooks) takes him on a secret trip to the Big Apple to audition for the Broadway production of Lilo & Stitch.

Unfortunately, he’s never given the chance to showcase his talent. Disney+’s upcoming original film Better Nate Than Ever does just that with a sweet story with some good songs.īased on the novel by director/writer Tim Federle, best known for his work on High School Musical: The Musical: The Series, Better Nate Than Ever tells the story of 13-year-old Nate Foster (Rueby Wood) who dreams of becoming a famous Broadway star. Followed by fantastic music and fun dance sequences, these musicals tell a story for the ages and allow some kids to feel seen. Everybody’s Talking About Jamie and Billy Elliott are coming-of-age musicals of kids who are different, but still found a way to follow their dreams. It’s hard to not fall in love with Broadway-inspired films, especially ones that focus on growing up and trying to fit in someplace.

Better nate than ever book series