Every adventure begins with a dream.|Mar. 15, 2022|United States|92 Min.|PG
Genre: Comedy;Family;Music
Description: Better Nate Than Ever is a 2022 American family-comedy musical film directed and written by Tim Federle, inspired by his 2013 novel of the same name. The film is a coming-of-age tale centered on musical theater and Broadway, focusing on the journey of Nate Foster. The supporting cast includes Lisa Kudrow, Norbert Leo Butz, and Joshua Bassett.
The movie premiered at the El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood on March 15, 2022, and became available as a Disney+ original on April 1, 2022. It follows 13-year-old Nate Foster, a Pittsburgh resident with big dreams of becoming a Broadway star. While his parents are supportive, his older brother Anthony is less understanding of his quirks. At school, Nate faces bullying and loses out on key roles in the school play, finding comfort only in his best friend Libby, who encourages him despite her own stage fright.
Libby informs Nate about auditions for a Broadway adaptation of Lilo & Stitch, but Nate hesitates to pursue the opportunity. When his parents leave town, Anthony uses the time to hang out with friends, while Nate pretends to stay at Libby’s house. Together, Nate and Libby secretly take a bus to New York City.
Upon arriving, they find the audition location but learn that a parent or guardian must accompany them. Coincidentally, Nate’s Aunt Heidi, an aspiring actress, is there to audition for another role, and Nate convinces her to act as his guardian. Though Heidi wants to inform Nate’s parents, he tricks her into calling Libby’s number instead.
During his audition, Nate attempts to showcase his dancing skills but accidentally rips his pants, leading to an embarrassing moment.
The story highlights Nate’s dreams, his challenges, and his determination to succeed, weaving humor and heart into his journey toward self-discovery.
Cast director: Tim Federle
Cast actor: Rueby Wood, Lisa Kudrow, Joshua Bassett, Norbert Leo Butz, Aria Brooks, Michelle Federer, Finn Egan-Liang, Pierson Salvador, Mandy González, Jimmy Ray Bennett
Original name: Better Nate Than Ever