It’s an impossible standard to ask a film adaptation to capture the entire experience of any stage musical. But there’s a sense of betrayal to how this movie cherry-picked from this musical, which was insightful in its portrayal of parents and the immeasurable sacrifices they make for their kids.
In the end, the adult characters were watered down for new scenes and songs that center on the teenagers, destroying the stage show’s achievement in humanizing and honoring parents.
~ Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times
