"The Greatest Showman" (2017) Film Review
Trailer Courtesy of Regal Cinemas.
Directed By: Michael Gracey
Directed By: Michael Gracey
Rated: PG
Runtime: 1:45
Review By: Livi Edmonson
“The Greatest Showman”: a magical flick perfect for holiday
entertainment.
Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Zendaya, Rebecca
Ferguson, and many other extraordinary cast members, star in the latest musical
phenomenon called “The Greatest Showman”. The musical is a romanticized,
fictitious film created around a real legend: P.T. Barnum. Thanks to Hugh
Jackman’s charm and a severely unrealistic script, the film depicts Barnum as
more of a hard-working family man, whereas the real Barnum could best be
described as more of a controversial, con man rather than a celebrated
entrepreneur and ringleader.
Filled with 11 exciting tunes to sing and dance to, we see
P.T. Barnum take his poverty-doomed life and turn it into a spectacular
sensation, officially birthing show business.
We see him rise, fall, rise, and fall some more, but eventually rise to
his highest potential when he becomes a true man and realizes that no matter
how many hoaxes he pulls off, all of the success in the world is not worth it
when he lets down everyone else around him.
Many critics seem to have a couple of issues with this film,
saying that the events in the story are completely untrue and that it is wrong
to paint P.T. Barnum as such an iconic figure of history, but I am here to
completely disagree with all of these critics.
First off, when 20th Century Fox first released
the idea of this film to the public, they clearly said that “The Greatest
Showman” is a film that was inspired by
the historical origins of Barnum and how his circus came to be. Therefore, not
one of the filmmakers ever said that
this film was a completely truthful autobiography.
Second off, since when do we, as audiences of a filmmaker’s
creation, start fact-checking cinema? This movie is extremely entertaining and
incredibly heartwarming, so why can’t all audiences take it with its face value
and enjoy the film because of the magic it brings to the screen.
Yeah, I guess they
could have done a more realistic biography over Barnum, but the truth is this:
no one wants to see the real story unfold, especially in a musical like this.
The real story would be too gruesome and would not attract large audiences of
all ages like “The Greatest Showman” does.
If you are not a fan of musicals, then do not waste your money on this film, for it contains singing and dancing the whole entire time, emphasis on whole. But, if you are a fan of musicals, get ready to hit the jackpot with this movie.
With fun, catchy songs written and composed by the Academy
Award winning and Tony Award winning lyricists of the film “La La Land” (2016)
and the hit Broadway musical, “Dear Evan Hansen”, “The Greatest Showman” is an
absolutely whimsical musical that will easily be one of your favorite ones
ever. Also, as someone who danced competitively almost all of their life, it is
safe to say that the choreography and dance numbers are phenomenal to say the
very least.
What makes musicals like this so intoxicating is that the
actors and actresses can actually sing and dance, showcasing all of them as
triple threats. (Yes, that really is Zac Efron and Zendaya on those ropes.
Impressive, right?)
All in all, “The Greatest Showman” is an inimitable film that will undoubtedly bring joy into the hearts of those who enjoy a story so incredible that it allows its audiences to escape into a fabulous world of singing and dancing.
Instead of watching films for the purpose of being educated,
we should start watching films as a purpose of entertainment. An audience’s
opinion of a film should be solely based on how the film makes them feel,
instead of on how much of the film is actually real. After all, films are not
meant to be pieces of complete realism, that’s what makes them so great.
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