Perhaps the most interesting thing about this play (aside from its Cinderella backstory, rags to riches) is the way it keeps transforming itself while you watch. At first, the viewer is actually shocked that such a horrific piece of history can suddenly become ENTERTAINING and INSPIRING. Then the subtext in the script about race, gender, community catch your eye, all at once. Soon you are wondering silently to yourself if there really is a place like Gander (yes) and if all Canadians are like that (many are, but not all). Then, before you have a chance to get bored, the gritty narrative, the backstory, pops up and grabs your attention; and wherever you are, whatever you are doing, you give a silent thanks for being able to watch history without actually BEING history. And then it is over. Cue the well deserved applause. ((Designated "IMDb Top Reviewer." Please check out my list "167+ Nearly-Perfect Movies (with the occasional Anime or TV miniseries) you can/should see again and again (1932 to the present))
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A_Different_Drummer12 September 2022
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COME FROM AWAY is a true story of the sleepy town, Gander in Newfoudland (a Canadian island). They get a big shake-up when told to accommodate up to seven thousand passengers stranded on 9/11 as all flights cease in US airspace. What occurs is the joy of humanity when the town opens it's heart and welcomes all in this uplifting musical full of hope.
The stunning 12 cast members take on all roles, telling stories from the view-points of the passengers and the town folks, all done in a simple but very creative way. It looked at all aspects of the human condition, from politics to religion, and everything else that makes this crazy world go round.
Took me a while to clinch onto the musical style, but once the characters had me, I was all in. An absolute heart warmer that shows what we are capable of in trying times... -
cliftonofun3 October 2021I'm not positive this is a great "film," but it sure is great theater. The director's previous experience was mostly with the stage, and that comes through - he wants us to experience the magic, from scene changes to choreography. So eventually it feels like you are in the best seat in the house. And that lasts long enough to be genuinely moved by these stories that refuse to be anything other than optimistic about humanity.
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brianjohnson-2004311 September 2021Come from Away is one of my favorite Broadway shows and should have beat out Dear Evan Hanson for the majority of the Tony awards in their award year (not because Hansen is bad, but because Come From Away is Soooooo good). Come From Away is very carefully written, directly and constructed musical about one of the most memorable sad days in many people's lives today (9/11), but provides a different optimistic and less dark lens for remembering the day and next few days after. And it's a great vehicle for young people to learn about 9/11 as well.
The cast was fabulous, the direction was great, the music is catchy, emotional, and excellently pays homage to the setting of this story. It's only about 90-100 minutes long and without an intermission. And that decision really is perfect for this particular story which they're telling. The fact that the cast is minimal and every cast member plays at least one Newfoundlander and one visitor is a very poignant and clever directing decision. The script is quickly paced for a musical and most of the songs keep moving the narrative forward. Overall the piece effectively fits lots of interesting actual stories into one big story in a heartwarming way. Everyone with AppleTV should feel exhilarating and excited for the change to watch this for such a small cost of any. Do yourself a favor and see the movie and the show when safe. The show was a big sold-out hit with a cult following for a reason. -
donaldsbelliveau10 September 2021Full of heart, it's just pure joy watching this show. The Newfie music has your foot tapping then you get chocked up by beautiful character moments. This show deserves every accolade you've heard.
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jakethesnake-4200712 September 2021What a joyous film from start to finish. The tone of the story was well done. The musical numbers are great and the songs are catchy. As a Canadian I even loved it more. One of the best musicals.
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patriciaannemanabat14 September 2021This musical is a very heartwarming musical. No seconds were wasted while watching this. Even with the limited screentime of all the characters, their arc were well written.
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scochrane-6967127 August 2021We saw the show on Broadway twice - in back to back weeks. It may be the most relevant, important show you'll ever see. You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll laugh some more and this show will give you hope for humanity in these dark times.
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isariendepicardia28 November 2021I had no idea what went on there at that time. We were all so caught up in our own events.
This stage musical that have been well filmed is excellent. The performances are convincing with the people seeming very much down to earth and real, no glitz and hype. I had tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.
Well done and highly recommended. -
southdavid15 March 2022Attempting to keep up my record of watching all the movies on Apple Plus, "Come from Away" is a "Hamilton" style recording of the musical stage show, recorded with an audience, though presumable with the odd section filmed separately, when the cameraman would have had to have been on the stage.
On September the 11th, 2001 one response to the terrorist attack was to immediately ground any planes that would have been in US airspace at the time. Gander airport, in Newfoundland, used to be used as a refuelling site on transatlantic flights but has become obsolete due to advances in plane technology. Suddenly, the airport and the surrounding community are inundated with 7000 passengers as 38 planes are ordered to land there. Stranded for days, the community pull together to help their new arrivals and form bonds that last for decades.
I enjoyed it. I like musicals and though I think "Come from Away" is perhaps lacking in killer songs that would transfer into usage outside of the actual show it's a consistently entertaining and funny time. I hadn't necessarily anticipated that a show with this subject matter would be as amusing as it is, but as it highlights the charm of Newfoundland life and the differences (and similarities) with the cultures that arrive it's a spirit raising time.
This particular film version is well shot, generally sticking to shots from the audience, but occasionally heading into the production for some more unique moments. The way the show works is good too, with the principle cast all taking multiple roles and changing their accents or little amendments to their outfits to differentiate between the characters.
I genuinely feel like I've experienced the production with this version and I'm happy that we ended up with this, rather than a fully fledged film version as, in those circumstances, I wonder if the story might feel slighter than it should. -
pmailman10 December 2022I'm not a big fan of musicals. They usually leave me feeling that they're very artificial, the story of a play being an excuse for some music. This film transcends that. The story is engrossing, the cast superb as they transform from one character into another each believably full fleshed. As other reviewers have noted, the story itself transforms over the course of the film - revliving the horror of 9/11, the confusion and panic of those caught up in its consequences, the struggle for acceptance and liberation from stereotypes, but above it all the incredible generous hospitality of a little town shown to fellow human beings in trouble. And with it all, the vocal performances are excellent. It's the whole package.
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nehpetstephen4 December 2021I'm glad that this was filmed. More Broadway musicals and other theatrical productions should receive this treatment. As a "movie," the camerawork, editing, and mixing are serviceable--not as good as Hamilton, but not as bad as many filmed plays--but as a musical, I don't think this merits the exorbitant score (8.7 stars) it currently has on IMDb.
As an ensemble piece it is indeed very impressive. Getting so many actors to play so many characters across multiple locales in quickly interspersed snippets of overlapping time without befuddling the cast or the audience--well, that must have required a lot of rehearsal. Nevertheless, the choreography seems a bit stiff and amateurish, the script is riddled with cliches, and the songs... well, they simply don't sing. Jenn Colella's solo as Beverley Bass, the first female airline captain, is a showstopper, but most of the songs barely hit the toetapper mark for me. Even though I liked Colella's song and her glorious pipes, I can't remember its melody or a single line from it, and I saw it less than 24 hours ago. In my experience, there's usually at least one song from a good musical that I simply can't shake from my head for days after seeing it. With Come From Away, I'm not even able to hum a single line with certainty.
The other actors are all fine and none of them is outright bad, though a moment early in the play where they all try out their "Southern accents" is rather abysmal. (Are their Newfoundlander accents just as bad and I simply don't know any better?) It's hard to find fault with a story this earnest and uplifting, especially when it's based on truth, but then it's also a terribly obvious, predictable, broad, and superficial story with no single moment given any great depth or complexity. Shortly after singing the song that makes her the play's de facto hero, Beverley Bass is forced into a situation that makes her seem downright villainous, but the complexities of that moment are simply glossed over. The whole play has the dimension of a human-interest feature from Page 8 of the local paper: quite a bit of "ain't that something!," a sprinkling of "oh gosh, that's the pits," and a heavy dousing of "well, that really is nice" with nary a hint of "gee, it really makes you think!" There's nothing here you haven't thought before.
I get the sense this play was intended to be easily slotted into the agendas of tourists who come to NYC to see the 9/11 Memorial. I imagine whoever runs the help desk there frequently says, "While you're in town, you should take the kids to see Come from Away... Oh, no, no, no, you can take the five-year-old--it's family friendly!" I've got no problem with a simple, uplifting story. There's nothing too deep about Hairspray, after all, and I adore it. I just wish this musical had more engaging songs is all. -
It feels kind of wrong to criticise this show because of its serious matter. And the message is obviously great - it's about kindness and tolerance, and yes, this is how the world should be. But... There is absolutely nothing that is genuinely interesting about this musical. The humour is lame (the show would have been better off without it), none of the songs is remarkable in any way, and since there are so many characters, you don't develop any attachment to any of them - simply because neither of them is explored. You want to like this show, you really do - but it's just so freaking hard because it honestly lacks anything that would make it stand out.
I suppose people from the US might see it in a different light, though. -
snperera23 November 2021This musical made my heart so happy! I cried, I laughed! The talent, the staging, the acting everything is amazing in this musical and it works!!!!! I love it so much! It has such a beautiful message about humanity and hope!
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pweber-1216011 September 2021The cast is amazing in all the roles that they carry in the show. Each cast member performs at least 3 characters. Seeing this performed live is amazing. There are no breaks for anyone in the cast. It is nonstop energy. After seeing this you will definitely want to see it live & likely want to go to Gander, Newfoundland.
It is amazing to realize that this is based on a true story and the time that US air space was closed due to the September 11th attacks. -
kightp2 September 2021I saw the touring company production a couple of years ago in Portland, Oregon, and am eagerly awaiting its airing on television. It's a moving, funny and all-around wonderful production.
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billdees608-34-71890711 September 2021A delightful, yet touching and heartrending, beautifully acted show.
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kingofpeytonia28 March 2021This was scheduled in the Bass Hall in Fort Worth Texas soon after the Covid outbreak. Of course all crowded indoor performances were canceled which included this I really hope we have a film version of the original Broadway cast to see.
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rannynm20 September 2021Come From Away is a modern musical telling the life-changing story of the stranded passengers diverted to Newfoundland following the 9/11 disaster. With an incredible cast, catchy tunes and a moving tale Come From Away is definitely a film to watch.
Twenty years ago, on September 11, two planes crashed into the world famous twin towers in New York City, after they were high jacked. American air space was closed and all planes in the air were forced to land; thirty-eight of them were diverted to and stranded in Newfoundland, Canada. This story follows the passengers and crew from one of the planes as they come to terms with life in their new surroundings, while forming new relationships and bonding with the locals. This is the filmed version of the award-winning Broadway musical, filmed live on stage at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater in New York City, which tells the story of those 7,000 stranded passenger.
Throughout this film, twelve cast members each play a number of roles and it is very hard to single people out at times. All the characters are based on key individuals involved in the plane diversion. Some cast members who really stood out to me include: Jenn Colella who plays one of the pilots and a townsperson, Annette. She plays sets the bar very high for anyone who might play these roles in the future. Her amazing solos and riffs will knock your socks off. Sharon Wheatly plays Diane and Jim Walton plays Nick, two people who meet on one of the planes and, throughout their time in Newfoundland, start to feel a connection. Sharon and Jim are both very talented and share and amazing duet, "Stop the World." The remaining cast members each bring something different to this amazing production in their own unique way, from comedy to heart-break. My favourite song is the opening song "Welcome to the Rock." I love that it's an upbeat dance number that introduces you to the cast and the characters they play. I don't think I could choose a favourite part of the musical as all of it is just so interesting, moving and inspirational.
The message of this film is to remember how precious life is and how quickly it can be taken away or changed forever. My thoughts are with all those who have been affected by this tragic event over the past 20 years.
I give Come From Away 5 out of 5 stars and recommend it for ages 10 to 18, plus adults. It premieres September 10, 2021 on Apple TV+.
By Katie F., KIDS FIRST! -
michelleoverton18 September 2021It's a whole different look at 9/11 showing factors I never thought about during the actual calamity. It was nice to see people come together even through their own despair. Glad to have seen it, sad but also has some very funny parts!
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fpypczxw13 October 2021I was reluctant to watch this, mostly because it is a "musical". Turns out I apparently like musicals, lol. Very glad I watched it. Very entertaining and made me think about the 9/11 tragedy from a different, more personal level. Love the cast of this play. And it kind of makes me want to visit Newfoundland.
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On the positive side, this is an earnest and sincere production with many excellent performances which also makes an interesting addition to the 9/11 sub-genre. On the downside, the two-hour film feels like a full three-hour-plus Broadway production sans much-needed Intermission. The production feels crammed and hectic and cannot shake the feeling that is another well-meaning community theatre production that "accidentally" got professionally captured on video by someone's parent. Certainly not bad, but only for those who live for local theatre and are able to spurn cinematic production values -- this is not a traditional film, and therefore cannot be evaluated as such, hence the (seemingly) low score.
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Orpheus_Dude22 November 2021This film consists of portions of several live performances of "Come From Away" seamlessly edited together.
The direction is dazzling, the extremely talented and versatile ensemble cast of 12 is magnificent, the band (onstage) is great, but unfortunately the music - which is pretty much through-composed (no breaks between numbers, like an opera) - is totally unmemorable and often grating and repetitive. The book is predictable (the woman whose son is a NYC fire-fighter) and has its cringe-worthy moments (such as the rite for becoming an honorary Newfoundlander).
In all it comes across like a Hallmark Card to send to people who lost loved ones on 9/11. It makes "The Sound of Music" seem experimental and dangerous.
It's very easy to see why, of its seven Tony Award nominations (losing in all but one category to "Dear Evan Hansen" - which, despite being a flawed movie is a far, far better show). It won only one, for Best Direction of a Musical.
Still, it's worth watching. Once. But keep the fast-forward control nearby.
Interesting fact: Canadian actor Tony LePage - who memorably plays Garth, half of the gay couple comprised of two Kevins, and other roles (all12 actors play multiple roles) - is an understudy! He has never been an actual scheduled member of the cast according to IBDB, the Broadway sister of IMDb. -
rob-125-13769015 September 2021This show tells the story of the 7000 passengers who were diverted to Gander Newfoundland and the 9000 locals who looked them, in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attack.
Everyone should watch this show. You will laugh, you will cry and you will come out feeling just a little better about the world.
Oh and I've seen this show in the West End (London) 5 times in 3 trips. One by doing a 340 mile round trip driving just to see it.
This filmed version is great. It really captures the heart of the piece. A must watch from me. -
stueysullivan-3909214 September 2021This show was truly outstanding, it has a diverse cast in both ethnicity and age. Yet it doesn't seem deliberate to have done so unlike so many other things nowadays.
This show is emotional as it touches on the feelings around 9/11, but also heart warming as it also shows the best of what humanity is.
This really is a show that takes you on an emotional rollercoaster, one minute you are in tears, the next you are laughing.
It makes you want to visit Gander to meet the locals.