Better Nate Than Ever review: Exactly the adventure Disney Plus needed

In the midst of the somewhat dull list of Disney Plus original moviesMore Nate than Ever Finally, there’s some much-needed pizzazz. Maybe it’s no surprise that a movie about the consummate theater kid is full of sparkling showmanship. And perhaps it’s no surprise that the movie was written and directed by High School Musical: The Musical SeriesShowrunner Tim Federle was already a Disney Plus showrunner. But It’s Better to Nate than Ever — based on Federle’s debut novel — shines from beginning to end, with a stellar central character and just the right amount of whimsy and reality.

[Ed. note: This review contains slight setup spoilers for Better Nate Than Ever.]

Image: Disney

Nate Foster (newcomer Rueby Wood) is a passionate theater kid who just can’t catch his big break in any of the stage productions at his middle school. Nate, his best friend Libby and Aria Brooks leave his parents for the weekend. They decide to run to New York for an audition in a Broadway production. Lilo and Stitch. Making it in the big city isn’t as glamorous or as easy as the musicals paint it to be, but Nate is determined to see his dream through, in spite of the mounting odds against him. In New York, he reunites with his estranged Aunt Heidi (Lisa Kudrow), who’s been trying to make it as an actress for years. Nate (Joshua Bassett, a high school student) tries his best to avoid Anthony (Joshua Bassett), finding out that he left town.

Let’s get one thing out of the way: It’s Better to Nate than Ever isn’t an unabashedly goofy and indulgent Disney Channel Original Movie. This movie has more polish and budget than other Disney Channel Original Movies. High School Musical, Camp RockAnd Lemonade Mouth. And unlike the other Disney Plus Originals. It’s Better to Nate than Ever Keeps the same genuine charm as top DCOMs. Disney Plus Originals often shied away from the unique charm of an all-ages adventure that is unapologetic and has instead tried to reach adults. But It’s Better to Nate than EverIt hits all the right spots. The heart is balanced with humor to create a wonderful feel-good mixture.

The driving force of the movie is Nate, a school misfit who’s unabashedly true to himself. Nate has great dreams, and even though he doesn’t have the support of his family or peers, he is determined to realize them. He can’t land the lead in his school productions because the drama teacher gives those roles to more “experienced” students (or as experienced as middle-school students can be). Nate find this frustrating. How is he to gain experience when nobody will give him a chance? It’s not a lack of talent, but the lack of opportunity, and that just makes Nate all the more relatable.

Image: Disney

As Nate, Wood captures the specific overly exuberant energy of a blossoming theater kid: a passionate love for theater, confidence brimming out of him like golden sunshine, and dreams far bigger than his Pittsburg suburb — not to mention a personality that’s a TwingeHe is annoying but it feels natural for a thirteen-year-old. He’s awkward, and he tries too hard, but he’s endearing as hell. Nate is magnetic and draws everyone in wherever he goes. Nate is the movie’s shining star, though it also brings forward a strong ensemble to bolster him along.

The three central supporting characters — Anthony, Libby, and Heidi — also feel authentic. They’re mostly tools to push Nate’s story along, but we also see glimpses of their own struggles, which flesh them out from supporting stock characters. Not all of them have their problems solved within the movie’s runtime, but they all grow a little through the course of the movie, and they all learn something from Nate. The way Nate looks up to Heidi, and the way she uses that as motivation to reconnect with her family, is a particularly memorable subplot that’s heartwarming but not too cloying. Still, the focus is primarily on Nate himself, and that’s for the better. Disney Plus Originals also tried to make older characters richer than the main protagonists. However, this was at the cost of forgetting who the film is intended for. This isn’t the case in The Incredibles 2.More Nate Than Ever. The supporting characters — particularly the adults — aren’t one-dimensional, but the story is still primarily about Nate and his weekend whirlwind adventure.

Image: Disney

Certain components of It’s Better to Nate than EverAlthough they are more than life-size, those features aren’t bugs. Yes, it’s unrealistic for two middle-schoolers to jump into town for a weekend and sneak into a Broadway audition. Yes, it’s even more unrealistic for Nate to plod around New York City without a place to stay, then rocket to viral fame after singing on the street. Yes, the musical sequences in his head are over-the-top (though in keeping with the movie’s love of theater, they always use practical stage effects and costuming). But that’s part of the fantasy, what makes these sorts of movies so appealing to kids — and to the adults who may have been this kind of kid once upon a time. There are more concrete struggles for Nate, such as being bullied by his peers or managing his conflict with his jock sister. But when it comes to the bigger struggles, it’s more satisfying to see Nate soar over the roadblocks, once he finally finds the momentum.

It’s Better to Nate than EverIt’s a joy. It’s an ode to theater kids (and wannabe theater kids) everywhere. It doesn’t pander to that audience, but there’s enough grounding the movie to make it appeal to an adult audience. A story about a misfit kid trying to find his way in the world is pretty universal, no matter the viewer’s age, and It’s Better to Nate than EverThis story is told wonderfully through the charmingly awkward character. Come for the celebration of theater-kid energy (and the deluge of fun Broadway references) and stay for Nate’s spectacular adventure.

More Nate than Ever Disney Plus launches April 1st