Entertaining, but lacks substance

Rating: 8/10 (8 January 2018)

Don't get me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed the film. The songs, the choreography and the performances of the actors and actresses were fantastic. I loved the spectacle of it, and honestly, I was moved to tears a few times.
But underneath all that shine and glitter, the film doesn't really achieve much in terms of character development and plot. The 'unique persons' brought together by the circus feel like decorative figures in the plot, their personalities bland beneath their striking appearances, their relationships explored with very limited depth. There are so many elements in the story that the plot also feels a little confused, and the producers are so busy trying to explore each element that all of it feels quite shallow.
Aside from that, for being all about diversity and acceptance, the film does not seem to adequately deal with those issues. When Barnum returns to his circus after his attempted venture into the snobbish, upper-class world ends in bankruptcy, he does not actually apologise for his appalling treatment of his circus employees. He has shunned and hidden them away, embarrassed of them, demonstrating that whatever he told them, he does not actually accept them. Yet the film glosses over this aspect, and when he returns to his circus, he is readily met with forgiveness and the barest hint of resentment from the circus members.
Still, for all its flaws, I give it an 8/10, because truly, the spectacle of it entranced me. From the beginning to the end, the movie reeled me in with catchy songs and upbeat tunes, with fireworks and spinning trapeze artists. I thoroughly enjoyed the ride, and much like the circus-goers in the film, I left delighted with what I'd seen.