The greatest showman was one of the most popular movies of
2017. It proved so popular in fact that it remained in the cinema longer than
Star Wars The Last Jedi, no small feat.
It was met with mixed critical reception from movie critics
with a 55% rating on rotten tomatoes, however looking at the audience score
with 87% liking it, it’s clear to see the strong divide between the audience
and critics.
The greatest showman follows the story of P.T Barnum a
famous entertainer who is credited with the creation of the circus. The film
follows the key events of his life and the struggles to make his dream of the
circus a reality. The film is also a musical with many set pieces throughout the
film.
The film stars Hugh Jackman who has a history is
musical theatre along with Zac Effron and Zendaya. The film was a passion
project of Hugh’s and it’s clear to see the effort and passion that has gone
into the film.
The film contains visually engaging set pieces with catchy
songs and like all good musicals the songs help progress the story. Going back
to the divide between audiences and critics, it’s clear that the critics feel
the film does not accurately portray PT Barnum. The film takes a rather
romanticised version of his story showing him as a more sympathetic character
compared to what history will tell you.
I feel however that Hugh Jackman wanted to make a film that
was entertaining to audiences and carry a strong message of being proud of who
you are and no matter what there will always be a place for you in the world. From
strong performances to wonderfully catchy songs The Greatest Showman is definitely
a crowd pleaser and more than worth buying a ticket for the show!
