To See or Not to See: The Greatest Showman

Based on the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum, The Greatest Showman shares the story of his rise to stardom. Coming from a penniless upbringing, Barnum climbs his way to high society by developing what we know today as the circus. Told as a musical (with songs written by the super of-the-moment writing duo of Pasek and Paul), there is plenty of song and dance throughout the film. See how two of our writers enjoyed The Greatest Showman:

Don’t come to this film for a history lesson– but do come to be entertained and delighted. The Greatest Showman is basically the love child of Moulin Rouge and Broadway’s Side Show, meaning it’s full of pop-accented energy and a we-are-all-outsiders ethos that is guaranteed to not only tug at your heart, but pull it into a joyous dance. Hugh Jackman’s natural charisma is front and center, but his glowing performance does not overshadow the sheer magnetism of supporting players like Zac Efron, Zendaya, Michelle Williams, and Rebecca Ferguson.
– Parissa

The Greatest Showman delivers a very entertaining pop musical in a vivid circus setting. The film is reminiscent of Moulin Rouge in style with, at times, heightened, fast-paced visuals. Watching the evolution from museum to freak show to circus is fascinating. The talent on screen is, overall, wonderful. While a lot of the music does sound similar (my general complaint of Pasek and Paul’s style of music), the performances are really well-done. Standouts were Keala Settle, Zendaya, Zac Efron, and, of course, Hugh Jackman. It would be wonderful to see all of them take an actual Broadway stage together. One of the highlights for me was the acrobatic love song between Efron and Zendaya. Watching them soar through the air was delightful. Overall, The Greatest Showman is super entertaining to watch!
-Taraneh

★ ★ ★ out of 4

Photo Credit: 20th Century Fox