‘Better Nate Than Ever,’ directed by Tim Federle, is a musical family comedy film that revolves around 13-year-old Nate Foster and his friends (Rueby Wood). The young man, who lives in Pittsburgh with his parents and older brother Anthony (Joshua Bassett), dreams of becoming a Broadway star one day. Nate’s best friend and fellow theatrical fanatic, Libby Reneé, is his strongest supporter, despite the fact that his parents are supportive as well (Aria Brooks). Despite his efforts, Nate is consistently rejected by his friends and is never placed in any significant roles in school plays. Thus, Libby pushes him to try out for a role in the Broadway production of ‘Lilo & Stitch.’ Because Nate’s parents are gone and Anthony is staying with his friends, Nate and Libby are able to easily sneak out to New York City without being discovered.
When the couple arrives at the auditions, they are informed that they will require the presence of an adult supervisor. Nate gets in touch with his Aunt Hilda (Lisa Kudrow), who is also a struggling actress in her own right. Upon finding Hilda, who is concerned about Nate’s whereabouts, Nate is finally able to audition and give his best in order to begin his theatre career, despite Hilda’s reservations. In addition to the younger audience members who are striving to find themselves, the film resonates with the older audience members who see themselves reflected in this small child from Pittsburgh, as well as their own personal challenges, passion, and tenacity. The film has gotten positive reviews from the majority of critics, thanks to its stellar ensemble and mind-blowing soundtrack; but, its greatest strength is its beautiful and sympathetic coming-of-age story. Let’s take a look at how ingrained the concept of ‘Better Nate Than Ever’ is in reality.
Is the story of Better Nate Than Ever based on real life?
It is not based on a factual story, as the film “Better Nate Than Ever” demonstrates. Instead, the film is an adaptation of the novel of the same name by director Tim Federle, which was published in 2013. Federle’s first published novel, aimed at middle-grade readers, was partially based on incidents from his own life and was intended for young readers. A Pittsburgh native, Federle spent much of his childhood performing in the city’s theatres and frequently travelling to New York for auditions. The theatrical qualities of the book, as well as Nate’s sexuality, are a mirror of a young Federle, who wished to be his own person and make his mark on the world while still attempting to discover himself as a child. The novel is followed by two sequels, titled ‘Five, Six, Seven, Nate!’ and ‘Nate Expectations,’ which are both set in the same universe.
In creating the novel, Federle wanted to express a hopeful path of self-discovery that a child goes through in order to uncover their own truth, which she accomplished. Nate’s enthusiasm for theatre not only reflects Federle’s, but it also serves as a metaphor for stepping out of the shadows and into the spotlight in order to tell your story and convey your truth to the world. It is also a symbol of loneliness and alienation that Nate is experiencing at such a young age that he chooses to audition for a musical adaptation of the film “E.T.,” as well as the character of the alien in the musical that he auditions for. The title of the book, ‘Better Nate Than Ever,’ also conveys the concept that the best version of yourself is the actual version of yourself.
The process of adapting this highly acclaimed novel into a musical film began when Lin-Manuel Miranda read the book and expressed his enthusiasm for it on Twitter and in an article in the New York Times. Soon after, Federle received a phone call from Fox, who wanted to speak with him about his book. In order to adapt the novel from 2013, Federle wrote a screenplay while working on ‘High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,’ which was released in 2013. It goes without saying that when it comes to the transfer of one media form into another, adjustments are unavoidable, and who better to call the shots than the author of the book, who also happens to be the one in charge of directing the film?
Even though Fedrele was forced to delete key components from the book, he made an effort to retain the most amusing and heart-warming sections. More revisions were performed in order to guarantee that the written source’s visual storytelling was as effective as possible. One big difference between the novel and the film is the television show for which Nate auditions. Nate is competing for the role of Stitch in the Broadway adaptation of ‘Lilo & Stitch’, which is the subject of the film.
Because they are both extraterrestrials, the character carries the same significance as E.T., as does the concept of familial bonds conveyed by the film. In light of the importance of chosen family in both the theatre and queer communities, Fedrele believes that this latter element is an excellent addition to the subjects explored in the film. Another fantastic contribution to the book was the unforgettable character of New York City, who was created by the script’s author. The city is portrayed in all of its magnificence, and it is given the recognition it deserves as a beacon for theatrical artists and a destination where people come to make their aspirations a reality.