The Musical (2026)

-Written by Whitney Bain. 

Nerdy, frustrated playwright and frustrated middle school drama teacher, Doug Liebowitz (Will Brill), known to his students as Mr. L,  finds out his ex-girlfriend, Abigail (Gillian Jacobs), the art department teacher, is dating his nemesis, heartthrob, Principal Brady (Rob Lowe), whose plans are to win the coveted Blue Ribbon Award for the school in excellence and his own ego. The gloves are off and Mr. L masterminds the most diabolical revenge for him by creating the most offensive play ever made.

Brill plays the part of Mr. L in the early scenes as an odd duck when he sits down with Abigail who explains the break up after an eight week absence in their relationship, and he snaps. How these two got together is beyond me, as Abigail seems sweet and nice and Mr. L a neurotic Woody Allen type who has problems being intimate. 

Lowe, who also executive produced the film, has some funny moments as Principal Brady. His attitude and arrogance channels Gavin Newsom, the Governor of California, if he was a middle school principal. Lowe does a great job performing some egotistical faux paus.

The kids are the true stars here as they are believable in their roles. Their acting flows with sincerity with Nevada Gomez as Mikey, standing out as Mr. L’s stage manager and board operator.

The scene where Mr. L explains the harsh realities of life through his own experiences has the kids spellbound and in shock; but somehow his Svengali moment sparks their interest to use West Side Story as a cover and to perform his outrageous play instead. 

Giselle Bonilla’s direction is smooth and she works well with the cast. She uses some Hitchcockian moments with camerawork, angles, and lighting—creating nightmare, film noir images. There’s even a Bernard Hermanesque score that highlights the film. The dialogue has some snappy banter and moments.

When Mr. L reveals what his play is about, and the kids are sworn to secrecy, not even telling their friends or parents, Principal Brady decides he wants to see their performance and is satisfied after a few weeks of seeing them grow into their roles performing under the guise of West Side Story. He decides to take credit for the play on opening night. Mr. L’s revenge will be a dish served cold, but not without consequences to himself.

The alternate theme of the play, based on true events, is something I wouldn’t have chosen. It left the audience and I with mixed feelings and it took some of us out of it; but the performances salvaged the movie.

Directed by Giselle Bonilla. 

Written by Alex Heller. 

Stars Will Brill, Gillian Jacobs, Rob Lowe, Chyler Emery Stern, Karen Maruyama, etc. 

6/10 = WATCH IT FOR FREE