Success comes at a cost in “Merrily”

Back when I was a movie snob, I avoided musicals. Now, as someone who regularly sees live theater, it seems crazy that I once refused to watch it. Looking back, it's even crazier since one of my favorite films even then was "The Lion King"—which is, undeniably, a musical. Fortunately, I wised up and now love them. So, when Netflix released the proshot of "Merrily We Roll Along," it immediately shot to the top of my watchlist.

"Merrily" tells the story of three friends. The narrative unfolds from the end of their friendship to its very beginning.

The musical revolves around Franklin (Jonathan Groff), a very successful composer in Hollywood. We follow his journey from this rich, popular, and secretly jaded composer to the struggling artist who just wants to create something meaningful with his friend Charles (Daniel Radcliffe). In the first scene, he throws a party for all his Hollywood friends. When Mary (Lindsay Mendez), a friend from New York, arrives, we get our first hint of how Franklin has changed over the years.

By telling the story in reverse, the audience sees the results of the compromises Franklin has made to get to where he is, before seeing what they were. Even in that first scene, the specter of Charles looms large. His reaction to the mere mention of Charles shows that he was a huge part of Franklin's life and success, but something happened that drove them apart. As the performance continues, that opening is put into context. All the compromises he made to achieve success were also the ones that led to the dissolution of his friendships. Watching Franklin go from a man who has everything to a man who has nothing but his friends and a dream is pretty powerful. Groff, a Broadway superstar, brings his trademark charm to the role. The Franklin we meet in the first scene is gregarious and seemingly at the top of the world, but his words are tinged with regret at times.

While Groff is the main focus, his costars are also doing some great work. Radcliffe has done a lot of stage work and has made a name for himself beyond Harry Potter, the role that launched his career. He consistently picks interesting projects and always delivers. Charles is a dreamer who refuses to abandon his desire to write a play that says something. He and Franklin end up making a successful musical together and have promised each other they will write something meaningful after. With the success of that musical, Franklin starts to change his mind. This leads to a rift in their friendship that eventually tears them apart when, during a live interview, Charles basically says that Franklin is chasing the money, not the art.

Mendez’s Mary is clearly in love with Franklin. It is why she stays in his life longer than Charles does. Even though she hates the person he has become, she stays out of loyalty and because of her feelings toward him. In that first scene, Mary is very drunk, and Mendez delivers some very funny lines while hinting at events from her past without making her a pathetic character. She is the only one in that scene who is calling him out on his bullshit.

This version of the musical is a lot of fun, and the three leads have incredible chemistry. The story is told in a unique way that makes later events more impactful. There is no substitute for seeing a musical live, but seeing it from the comfort of your couch is the next best thing.

8/10

Rated PG-13 for drug use, some strong language, and smoking

2h 25m