Howard (2018)

Howard is special because it doesn’t just tell you Howard Ashman mattered—it lets you feel, in real time, how a singular voice can reshape Broadway, Hollywood, and the way we understand musical storytelling. Built almost entirely from rare archival footage and candid interviews, it plays like an intimate time capsule: affectionate, clear-eyed, and quietly electrifying as you watch genius take form in rehearsal rooms and recording booths. The tone is tender and celebratory without slipping into hagiography, allowing the emotion to land honestly—especially as it traces the urgency and humanity behind the work. If you’re allergic to documentaries that are more elegy than exposé, it may feel gentle, but for anyone who loves music, craft, or the alchemy of lyrics meeting character, this is a deeply moving reminder of what art can do.

Howard is clearly trying to be a loving, intimate tribute to Howard Ashman and a reminder of how much his lyrics shaped modern musical storytelling, and on that level it largely succeeds. The catch is that it’s more “well-made TV documentary” than revelatory cinema, leaning on familiar beats and a presentation style that occasionally slips into photo-montage comfort food. If you’re hoping for a formally daring film or big new revelations, you may find it pleasant but not particularly groundbreaking. If you already care about Ashman, Disney-era songwriting, or Broadway craft, the archival material and heartfelt interviews make it an easy, worthwhile watch.