Pleasant but forgettable

Rating: 6/10 (7 January 2018)

It seems every reviewer on this site is up in arms against a swarm of film critics who reviewed this film negatively. I abstained from any reviews or ratings before viewing, but frankly the film was only above average, no more.
Choreography was quite good, and certainly captured the energy demanded by the film's subject matter. The accompanying cinematography was well executed, as should be expected from a director whose background is in commercial advertising. But for a film that relies on its score and spectacle, almost every song was immediately forgettable.
Watch Moulin Rouge and plan to walk out with "Come What May" and "Your Song" stuck in your head. See Hamilton, and you'll be unwrapping dozens of cleverly hidden double-entendres for days. The songs from "The Greatest Showman" simply pale in comparison to those from any noteworthy musical. The lyrics are shallow, relying on tired turns of phrase and unoriginal analogies. The melodies border on pedestrian, and often provide little more than a framework to support the vocal riffs of the (admittedly excellent) performers.
Hugh Jackman is clearly in his element here, and makes the most of every moment on screen. The same can be said for the majority of the cast, but sadly their greatest moments are limited by the failure of originality from the writing/composing team.
This film is absolutely worth seeing, particularly for fans of theater and musicals. Just don't expect it to stand up to the expectations that have been set by the great musicals of our time.