Merrily We Roll Along Movie Review

The musical “Merrily We Roll Along” originated in the minds and hearts of composer Stephen Sondheim and playwright George Furth, debuting on stage in November 1981. ​

It didn’t do so well when it first came out, but in 2023, it made a triumphant return to Broadway. Luckily for us, it’s now a film starring the lead actors from the stage version, Jonathan Groff (Mindhunter) and Daniel Radcliffe. Radcliffe, who would probably like to get away from his wizarding days, would probably prefer I not (but I will mention his early films anyway), is from “Harry Potter.” He’s actually quite good in this film, but having done the role since 2022, why wouldn’t he be? That said, he’s a big part of why you’ll like this rendition.

Here, director Maria Friedman has adapted her Tony-winning interpretation of the Steven Sondheim musical, keeping the live stage setting and performances throughout, which gets a bit hairy at times, but makes for an inventive watch for people who don’t get to the theatre all that often. Remember the days of having the cast recording and singing them over and over until you knew them by heart? This is one of those musicals. The story is about three friends who were once really close. They worked together in creative settings, their dream jobs. There’s composer Franklin Sheperd (Groff), playwright and lyricist Charley Kringas (Radcliff), and there’s also author and theatre critic, Mary Flynn, played by Lindsay Mendez from “All Rise.”

The story is told in reverse, which works well with this theme. We meet the trio at their worst, then roll things back a few decades to see them at their best. Can they be this way again? It will be running through your head as you listen and watch what they’ve said and who they’ve been. You’ve already seen what their dreams have brought them. For very successful Franklin, his dark side is exposed. He cheated on his wife and hit a roadblock; thus, his character arc becomes more appealing as the years disappear.

The personalities, the friendships, the lyrics, the production itself, and the original cast being part of this will make your experience enjoyable and make you want more of them. We can’t all jump on a plane and head to Broadway. Thankfully, gifted directors are willing to construct the musical production for us in this fashion. “Merrily We Roll Along” won four Tony Awards and will win you over as you watch. I recommend it.

If you can catch this proshot (stage version shot for screen, not replaced) in the limited theater release, do.