'The Greatest Showman' Review: A Quaint and Modern Take on a Poignant Musical Spectacle

“This is the greatest show,” echoes an ensemble cast made up of oddities and freaks. This statement is the bold claim of “The Greatest Showman,” rookie director Michael Gracey’s first major film. It’s a feat that few budding directors have accomplished—to make something so impactful and expertly-directed that audiences won’t see you as a newcomer. A musical in its core and being, the movie doesn’t stray far from its colorful and enticing foundations of a world revolving around show business.
“The Greatest Showman” follows the story of real-life American showman P.T. Barnum (played by Hugh Jackman) as he rises from having nothing to ultimately owning the world’s attention—even that of her Majesty the Queen. The film explores the inner workings of the circus, as told in breathtaking musical numbers. If not for the modern twist on the movie’s soundtrack, you’d almost feel like you’re in a real-life freak show.

Extraordinary execution

“The Greatest Showman” opens with a spectacle—literally. We see a well-dressed Jackman hyping up the audience with an energetic musical number called “The Greatest Show.” From there, he leads his group of carnival performers into a visual display of magic and awe, as it transitions to where and how Barnum got to being a showman in the first place. Charity (Michelle Williams) is the love of his life, and it doesn’t stray far from where his goals are. Starting from a young age, we see how Barnum expresses his passion for oddities and performances.

Charity and Barnum’s love story is not one to be amazed at, however. It’s the classic tale of an underdog who longs to marry the daughter of a wealthy fellow, and in the end, he succeeds. But what makes this premise profoundly entrenching is how the music and dynamics of Williams and Jackman are effectively shown on screen. The song “A Million Dreams” makes the chemistry between the two so inspiring, that you’d long to be a live spectator of their budding romance.

We are then treated to a handful of musical numbers that features all the awe and wonder of a carnival show. Director Michael Gracey is a genius—so much so that it evicts the genuine emotion that the song wants to convey. “The Greatest Showman” is not just a musical film, it’s a celebration of the arts and spectacle of live performance. My personal favorites include Keala Settle and the ensemble cast’s “This Is Me.” I will never forget the perfect blend of choreography and brilliant cinematography in one smoothly-done musical scene that makes acceptance the main heart of the track. Another great number is Loren Allred’s “Never Enough,” who, despite her desire to be an ally to Barnum and his family, fails to make a positive character impression but left a tasteful mark on the hearts of audiences with her soulful rendition.

Gracey wastes no time when it comes to dialogue, as about 75% of the film is purely musical. It’s a testament to the perfect usage of words and music to convey emotion so powerful that even the slightest drop of note makes one feel immensely touched and passionately locked into the colorful world of the film’s narrative. But when you take the writing as a whole, it’s not that impressive after all. The entire tapestry centers on Barnum and his family, while subplots about racism, prejudice, and domestic violence are lightly tackled.

The plot is a bit mundane albeit amazing displays of dance and song. There’s another love story used as a subplot to boost Phillip Carlyle (Zac Efron) and Anne Wheeler’s (Zendaya) Romeo and Juliet-esque romance—although it comes a little bit timely as it tackled the underlying themes of the apartheid. It’s a good subplot, but not used very much to its advantage. It could’ve gone a bit more detailed with higher stakes and broader ramifications; but then again, the running time would have to suffer.
In the end, though, the underdog has to win.

Highlighting the power of show

Gracey’s first high-end feature film is “The Greatest Showman.” For a newbie like him, one would expect a dull, subpar story that only exists to get his career gears running. However, in his first big directorial effort, he gives it his all and shows us the very thing that we all come to the movies for—a good show and quality entertainment.
“The Greatest Showman” is all about the whimsical beauty of old-school awe and delight.

Although the real-life Barnum is more terrible than portrayed (it’s weird how he’s presented as a good-natured master showman in the movie but a real dick in truth), the film efficiently establishes an intense emotional connection with his character from the get-go. All things considered, Barnum’s ensemble cast and expertly-choreographed scenes make the movie something worth seeing, ultimately giving justice to what the marketing has been telling us—it is the greatest show. “The Greatest Showman,” despite the pitfalls in dialogue and a more complicated story, is a genuine piece of entertainment designed to make you laugh and cry, to make you feel, and to have you experience the color and spectacle of the carnival. Although most of the characters lack depth, you won’t mind because of how the social themes overpower the story.

There are no drastic dilemmas, no massive plot twists, and no significant decisions to make. To put it directly, “The Greatest Showman” is just a movie, but it triumphs nonetheless because of it’s substantiated musical pieces and coherent storyline. Apart from that, you’ve got to hand it to cinematographer Seamus McGarvey for creating such a colorful world of fun and excitement.

‘The Greatest Showman:’ Overall Verdict

The film is a visual spectacle. It’s not something that would make you go on a “for your consideration” campaign, but it succeeds in all the other areas that make a film worth seeing. However, it’s important to look at the subtle hints and themes of the movie. It’s good to exclaim your wonder throughout the film, but I highly encourage you to look at the minor social commentary that “The Greatest Showman” implies. It’s not much, but it’s enough to make you look around you and ask yourself if you’ve been treating others how they should all be treated, that is, with fairness and equality.
That said, you’re in for a joyful ride once you go see “The Greatest Showman.” It’s everything you’ll ever want in a musical film. It’s everything you’ll ever need for a positive emotional experience. It’s a show so marvelous that you’d want to be a lasting part of it.
“The Greatest Showman” is, after all, a great show.