'Dear Evan Hansen' and its Broadway pedigree get lost in translation

Despite its Broadway credentials, "Dear Evan Hansen" hits screens faced with an inherent tension: Can its songs and cast, led by Ben Platt reprising his Tony-winning role, overcome the uncomfortable premise and problematic protagonist? The answer is not completely, despite tweaks seemingly made specifically to try softening those edges.

Although one might think an acclaimed musical wouldn't warrant such concerns, the nature of the story -- about a misunderstanding that becomes a lie, at first kind in its intentions but increasingly cruel as it drags on -- won't be for everyone. And while there are a few beautiful songs from the team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul ("La La Land" and "The Greatest Showman"), at points that feels like modest compensation for watching this slow-motion train wreck unfold.

At its core, the story does say profound things about the nature of grief and mental health, and perhaps most pointedly how people frequently respond to tragedy in ways that make the aftermath all about them. In this case, that tendency transforms an alienated high-school kid no one paid any attention into a cause and crusade after his death.