Critics have given generally favorable reviews to the Disney+ film adaptation of Better Nate Than Ever, based on the 2013 book by Tim Federle about an unpopular teen who dreams of becoming a Broadway star. The creative team includes Tim Federle (screenplay, direction), Gabriel Mann (music), Declan Quinn (cinematography), Kate Mcquerrey (editing), Jane Musky (production design), Keri Lederman (set decoration), and Jordan Carroll (music supervision). The cast features Rueby Wood (Nate), Joshua Bassett (Anthony), Aria Brooks (Libby), Norbert Leo Butz (Rex), Finn Egan-Liang (Jimmy Madison), Michelle Federer (Sherrie), and Lisa Kudrow (Heidi).
Movie Nation (Roger Moore): The film itself is an innocuous but pleasant Junior High School Musical from the writer/creator of that Disney blockbuster with Gabriel Mann serving up pleasantly forgettable songs. … Nate’s irrepressible “THIS is where I’m supposed to be” renews Aunt Heidi’s enthusiasm for the cattle calls, the smell of the greasepaint and the roar of the crowd. … The premise is so adorable as to give you a toothache. The production numbers have a Guys and Dolls era artifice that’s just as cute. … Our lead, a veteran of the stage tour of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, has enough charm and musical theater chops to hold our interest even if the movie is aimed at more of a tween or young teen audience. 2-1/2 out of 4 stars.
New York Times (Amy Nicholson): [Federle] paints Times Square in cotton-candy colors. As a filmmaker, he doesn’t yet have the comic timing to prod a laugh from a montage of rats and garbage. But his leads deliver hearty performances that elevate the movie, particularly once we’ve had time to adjust to the gusto of Wood, whose wired performance has the flavor of Hugh Jackman’s exuberance squeezed into an espresso cup. The slight story is buttressed by the LGBTQ affirmations, even if the movie is indirect in delivering them. At least the script finds creative ways to do that — as when Aunt Heidi (Lisa Kudrow), herself a struggling actor, sighs, “Some boys aren’t comfortable admitting they know every word to Pippin.”
Rogert Ebert (Nell Minow): Thank goodness for theater kids. If not for the mysterious but unquenchable spark in the kids born loving plays and musicals, who would tell our stories? … Like any classic movie musical, there are some elaborate dream-like numbers as well as the diegetic songs in the auditions, all expertly staged. … There are two good reasons to watch Better Nate Than Ever. First, it is smart, fun, and funny, a great movie to share with the family. Second, becoming a Rueby Wood fan right now will make sure you will not miss a moment from a performer who is already a master of comedy, drama, singing, and dancing. Someday, when he wins a Tony, you will want to be able to say, “I saw him in his first movie.” 3-1/2 out of 4 stars.
Variety (Courtney Howard): What hooks and disarms audiences minutes after clicking play on Better Nate Than Ever is its infectious energy. … Federle welcomes us into this world with the tantalizing promise of major things to come in a semi-biographical tale of an underdog chasing his dream of becoming a Broadway sensation. … Funny, vibrant, yet schmaltzy to a fault, this Disney+ family film can carry a tune, but falters in crafting a runaway hit. … Its heaping doses of sincerity make platitudes about finding your light and being true to yourself go down easy, giving hope to those who may be struggling with self-acceptance. Still, without some of the bigger ideas combining perfectly into a powerful crescendo, the song it sings sounds pitchy.