A handful of characters have slightly different backstories in the movie adaptation. In the movie, Zoe and Connor's father, Larry, is actually their stepfather, and their birth father died when they were very young. The character of Jared is also gay in the movie and his name has been changed from Jared Kleinman to Jared Kalwani to reflect actor Nik Dodani's Indian heritage. Additionally, the character of Alana has been significantly expanded, as she develops a close friendship with Evan in the movie.
Why it helps the adaptation: I was hesitant when I first learned that Connor and Zoe's dad would be their stepdad, but after watching the movie, it actually fits the story perfectly. The way Larry struggles to confront Connor's death takes on a new meaning as we learn how he tried especially hard to be a father figure for Connor without taking the place of his birth father. It even gives Connor more of a backstory, as his mother notes how he grappled with his birth father's death a lot growing up. I also loved how the movie utilizes Jared and Alana more. Since the two have less significant roles in the musical, giving them more fleshed-out backstories in the movie only added to the overall narrative.
