Peter Charney’s review published on Letterboxd:
Even broken musical theatre adults deserve a coming-of-age, slightly magical realist tale to help process their hardships!
This was one of my most anticipated movies of the year, and while I was a bit disappointed that it didn’t turn out to be a full-blown musical, the few grand, larger-than-life sequences we do get—clearly inspired by classic movie musicals—are undeniably charming. Sure, I could nitpick some aspects of how the process of creating a new Broadway show is portrayed, but Your Monster does succeed at capturing how personal and professional boundaries blur in the creative world, especially within an industry where commercial success often overshadows the art itself. Melissa Barrera, who should be in every movie musical, is so endearing, and her character’s romantic relationship with her childhood imaginary monster carries just the right amount of whimsy and thematic depth. However, the final sequence takes an unexpected turn that only feels inevitable once viewed in hindsight. A more gradual stylistic shift and some foreshadowing might have made this choice feel better justified in the moment.
Also, beyond the obvious, there’s some truly atrocious theater directing on display here. Tough to watch! (Good tunes though…)
Peter liked these reviews
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