Disappointment for a huge fan!

It is an exhilarating, distressing, funny and profound film, with one of the more memorable film scores in years,

It is neither dumb nor smart enough to be fun, and spends way too much time with its boring human characters.

Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

I was lucky enough to see HOWARD at the Tribeca Film Festival, and the audience went crazy for it. Directed by acclaimed producer Don Hahn (Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King), this documentary showcases the life of Howard Ashman, whose songs have fundamentally changed Hollywood animation and continue to influence storytelling today.Howard's life was cut short by the AIDS virus, and the documentary serves to honor his life and legacy. Hahn extensively interviews nearly everyone who ever crossed paths with Howard, and helps to shine a light on his musical genius. They go into a TON of detail, looking at Howard's childhood, hopes and dreams, fears, and, of course, his professional achievements (Little Shop of Horrors, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, etc) at every point in his life. For anyone who enjoys storytellers, musicals, Disney, or movies in general, I would highly, highly recommend this film. In HOWARD, Don Hahn made the ultimate tribute to a close friend: he has given us a glimpse inside the mind of a genius who went too soon.