Dear Hollywood:
This is how it's done. Forget the critics. They have no idea what they are talking about. The Greatest Showman is the classic underdog story told in musical format. It is everything La La Land aspired to be, but will be lucky to earn half the accolades of last years Oscar sweetheart. But it succeeds because it is good. The music, the dancing, the story, the originality. Oscar be damned. This film is good and will make plenty of money from the unwashed masses who don't vote for Oscar.
The Greatest Showman is a celebration of life. An examination of the difference between art and the things that make us happy. It is an interesting dichotomy that feels ironic given the critical reception this movie has received. The film takes liberties with the true story of PT Barnum who delighted generations of kids (of all ages) with his flashy showmanship and embrace of human oddities. The story has a strong inclusiveness subtext without feeling preachy or political. It is a delicate balancing act, masterfully constructed by writers Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon.
The Greatest Showman came out of the gates with purpose. The film opens with Barnum (Hugh Jackman) delivering an opening number backed by the percussion of stomping feet. The film utilizes exceptional cimenatography to capture tightly choreographed acrobatics to compliment the excellent musical score. It is large, flashy and impressive. The film tells Barnum's backstory in music before tracking his marriage to Charity (Michelle Willims) and his eventual rise to stardom, alongside his setbacks. We know how this story ends, yet I found myself rooting for him to succeed. And to make good decisions personally. The balance of musical and dialogue kept the story moving at a nice pace.
Okay, so the film wasn't perfect. It was a bit predictable. The CGI animals were imperfect, and there were a couple continuity issues that were very minor. But those things drive me nuts. There is a scene where Barnum puts on his hat and the cut shot shows him with it off. There was another scene where he has a glass with a bit of whiskey in it that is empty in the next shot. Those are minor niggles, but enough to make me lower my rating to within the stratosphere.
Having seen Jackman in Les Mis, I had no doubt he would be exceptional. Likewise Zac Efron, who has a history with musical productions. I was pleasantly surprised by Michelle Williams, who was exceptional in her musical scenes. My favorite performances were with Efron singing duet with Disney star Zendaya. They sounded great together. The choreography went beyond simple dancing, incorporating circus elements in many of the numbers. The performances, music and choreography elevated a decent story to a magical experience.
I thought The Greatest Showman was better than expected. It enjoys a nice rating at IMDb right now with an 8/10 rating. Audiences seem to be enjoying the film more than the critics. Not surprising. While the film had some minor issues, the magical qualities of this film far outweigh any minor issues. With a PG rating, this 105 minute film is good for the entire family. A feel good movie to round out my 2017. It should be competing heavily with shape of water at the Oscars, but the poor critical reception may dampen some of those aspirations. In spite of the fact that this film is far superior to last years darling La La Land. Worth seeing in theaters. 8.5/10.
