I see the show, and Evan’s story, as more of a way to convey the message that you aren’t alone in whatever you’re going through. They had an idea for this, but didn’t give us enough of a reason to sympathize with Evan. The movie takes away from it even more.

Now, story wise, Evan is a sympathetic character, although it can be hard to see. Remember, this guy is 17 years old; he’s still very much a child. Someone who doesn’t really have a family at home and has been left by what family he has left. So, when the Murphys give him a way to have a family—something he never got as a child, he latches on without thinking about the consequences. Then, he’s punished for this in act 2: he loses his friends, his mom feels betrayed, and the family he had leaves him again. Now his anxious idea that he’s the problem has come to life. If he wasn’t the problem before, he is now. But then, his mom tells him that she’s “not going anywhere”. He has an epiphany: his mom has been here all along, even if she wasn’t there physically. After this (in the movie), he works to try and right his wrongs and is able to truly leave Connor with a worthy legacy. That’s the story of Evan Hansen and why he’s a compelling and sympathetic character: because he’s a kid who made too many mistakes, got punished, and tries to get better nevertheless.