Review - The Greatest Showman (2017)

       Hey guys, Chuck here. 2017's The Greatest Showman is a musical film directed by Michael Gracey, from a screenplay by Bill Condon and Jenny Bicks, with songs by La La Land songwriters Benj Pasek and Jason Paul. The Greatest Showman stars Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, Keala Settle, Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Sam Humphrey, Eric Anderson, Natasha Liu Bordizzo, Paul Sparks, and Fredric Lehne. 

       The movie tells the story of P.T. Barnum, who was born the son of a tailor. As a boy, Barnum grew close to a girl named Charity Hallett, who was born to wealthy parents, and is sent to finishing school just as she and Barnum get closer. Barnum, after the death of his father, eventually makes a decent living on the railroad, and he grows up and marries Charity, and they have two lovely daughters, Caroline and Helen. 

       Unfortunately, Barnum's job goes bankrupt after their trading fleet is sunk in the South China Sea. But, after returning home to his family, he gets an idea: open up a museum of curiosities. Unfortunately, the museum gets very few people to see it, but Barnum takes an interesting suggestion from his daughters: give the people something real. So, Barnum spends the next several days seeking out individuals who are unique, have special talents, and have been cast out by society. Among them includes a bearded lady named Lettie Lutz, a dwarf man named Charles Stratton, sibling trapeze artist Anne and W.D. Wheeler, acrobat and blade specialist Deng Yan, just to name a few. 

        With a cast assembled, Barnum puts on his show to the adoration of the people, but not without a few detractors, such as men protesting the performers for their "non-conformity," and a harsh critic named James Gordon Bennett. It's luck, however, when Barnum employs the services of a young partner and playwright named Phillip Carlyle, while Barnum also renames his show "P.T. Barnum's Circus." Barnum, Carlyle, and the crew then head to London to meet the Queen, and it's here where Barnum also meets Swedish music sensation Jenny Lind, and convinces her to perform in America with him as manager. She agrees, and her first show in New York is a rousing success. Unfortunately, this newfound adoration among high society leads Barnum to distance himself from his circus cast, who decide to stand together against those who have been harassing them. 

        We also see something of a romance bloom between Carlyle and Anne, but she begins to pull away as society, as well as his parents, would never accept them being together due to their difference in station. Barnum, meanwhile, decides to take Jenny on a nationwide tour, leaving everyone else behind, including his family. This, sadly, leaves Charity feeling isolated from him. Another wrinkle comes up when Jenny begins to fall in love, and Barnum tries to reject her advances. She kisses him after a performance, which is photographed by a member of the press. Barnum returns home, only to see the circus on fire after a fight between the cast and the protestors broke out. Carlyle ran in to save Anne, who had already gotten out, and Barnum goes to rescue him, and exits the burning building with an injured Carlyle. 

         Some days later, Bennett arrives to tell Barnum the instigators who started the fire were caught. Also, admitting to not liking the show, added that he always felt the people liked it quite a bit, and admired how Barnum brought together so many different people and had them on stage as equals. In his words, "a celebration of humanity." Bennett then adds that he hopes Barnum rebuilds, and later reveals the scandalous kiss in the paper, which reveals that Jenny quit her tour. This, unfortunately, causes the bank to foreclose in Barnum's house, forcing Charity to movie back in with her parents, along with the girls. 

        Barnum heads to a local tavern, where his circus cast catch up with him, and get him back on his feet, revealing that he gave them a family and a home, when their own families had abandoned them or kept them in shadows. His spirit renewed, Barnum plans to rebuild, and not let ambition rule him. At the hospital, Carlyle wakes up with Anne by his side, and they share a kiss. Back at the beach near her parents home, Barnum and Charity reconcile. Unfortunately, however, Barnum can't get another financial loan to rebuild. But, Carlyle reveals he took his 10% cut weekly, and is willing to finance Barnum's rebuilding efforts in exchange for being a full partner. Barnum then has another brilliant idea: acquire cheap land near the docks, and rebuild the circus with an open-air tent. 

       The new circus is a massive hit, and Barnum makes Carlyle the new ringmaster, and he departs in the back of an elephant to spend more time with his family. The movie ends with Barnum and Charity watching their daughters' ballet recital. 

        The Greatest Showman is easily one of my favorite movies musicals. Now, while the clearly romanticized the story of P.T. Barnum quite a bit from the man he was known for being, I think that the filmmakers did remember one thing: he truly was a showman who could put on a show. And, who better to showcase that quality that Hugh Jackman? Honestly, next to his role as Wolverine, Jackman's performance as Barnum is easily my favorite role of his in any movie I've seen him in. Both Michelle Williams and Rebecca Ferguson as Charity and Jenny were also fantastic, and both had phenomenal chemistry with Hugh Jackman's Barnum. Both Keala Settle and Sam Humphrey are genuine standouts as Lettie and Charles, and both really help carry much of the circus elements of the movie. Zac Efron was really good as Carlyle, and it's great getting him to be part of a musical film, given his past with the High School Musical series. Lastly, I thoroughly enjoyed Zendaya in this movie, as this is more of a musical role as opposed to an action role. And, I'm just gonna say it: Zendaya has more chemistry with Zac Efron in this movie than she had with Tom Holland in Spider-Man. I'm not saying, I'm just saying. 

       The songs are a genuine highlight, with such songs as "This is Me," "A Million Dreams," and "Never Enough" being the most famous. For me, I personally enjoyed songs like "Rewrite the Stars," "From Now On," and "The Greatest Show." Honestly, the songs in this movie are a major reason why, after seeing the movie in theaters, I immediately went and bought the soundtrack on CD. I enjoyed the songs that much, and I give major props to Benj Pasek and Justin Paul for the work they did. 

         The costume and set design, as well as the choreography and cinematography, were absolutely fantastic. Director Michael Gracey really framed this movie insanely well, and really set the time and time of this movie really well. The musical numbers genuinely felt like musical numbers, complete with catchy music and upbeat choreography. Also, the use of acrobatics, especially with the trapeze work featured in the movie, was absolutely fantastic. All of these things combined for a truly immersive musical experience. 

         Honestly, I love this movie on multiple fronts across the board. This is one I always recommend for fans of musicals, as well as fans of Hugh Jackman. I'm giving The Greatest Showman a rating of 5/5. Check this one out if you haven't already. 

        Alright guys, this is Chuck signing off, and I'll see you guys next time.