Showman's a little too slick and shy for its own good.

Rating: 5/10 (23 January 2018)

Showman / conman PT Barnum gets the same kid glove treatment Flo Ziegfeld received in 1937 with this antiseptic look at his life and legacy. Filled with a fair share of catchy tunes, a couple of impressive dance numbers and lush production values it mawkishly keeps things saccharine to the point of not allowing PT's kids to grow up over a period of years along with shouldering singer Jenny Lind with the blame regarding her nebulous relationship with Barnum when he had her under contract. It's understandable for a musical to do so but the story in this case is too timid to maintain the energy level between musical numbers.
The dance segments are simply over edited cheating the audience out of a more fully fleshed out Hugh Jackman performance. A major broadway performer and fine hoofer, Jackman's numbers are simply cut to pieces in jump cuts that reduce him to a twirling top. Director Gracery also shortchanges his dance troupe as well by truncating movement and allowing the camera to move more than the dancers, the editor's blade obliterating their abilities and contribution. The numbers are slick and energized but at great disservice to the talent performing it and the audience being denied it.