"The Greatest Showman" Movie Review

Jackman's P.T. Barnum would appreciate the hyperbole. This "biopic" revolves around Barnum and the early stages of his circus, and though it's not the greatest movie of the year, The Greatest Showman fills the musical void for the year with grand flare.

I put "biopic" in quotes because The Greatest Showman is only loosely based on Barnum's endeavors, keeping major plotpoints like the Jenny Lind America Tour and the burning of the Barnum American Museum, but skewing all other information. But from a purely fictional perspective, The Greatest Showman amps up entertainment value through well composed musical numbers, elaborate set designs, and great performances, including from musical veterans Hugh Jackman and Zac Effron. And while I wasn't thrilled with all of the choreographic choices, it's clear a lot of effort was put into the showmanship of this film.

Like Barnum's circus, The Greatest Showman is meant to be fun for the whole family, as reflected by its PG rating. And like the public's range of reactions to Barnum's show, whether you love The Greatest Showman or not depends on how much you'd like to believe in the embellished presentation.

Acting and Casting - 2
Visual Effects and Editing - 2
Story and Message - 1
Entertainment Value - 2
Music Score and Soundtrack - 2
Reviewer's Preference - 1