A wholesome movie during dire times

Rating: 10/10 (24 April 2020)

To start it off, this movie is a gem. It is a wholesome movie with good performances and visuals all around. The soundtrack is amazing (several songs have been covered by the likes of Pink and several others) and the story is timeless in spite of the era it supposedly takes place in. This was the short version of it.
The details; When the movie came out, from the trailers it seemed like the movie was more about the songs and the visuals like a big music video than story and substance. Boy was I wrong.
This movie is of course somewhat focused around major set pieces, but it is amazing how well the grandeur of the visuals and songs are balanced with the overall story and morality. The performances are amazing overall. Hugh Jackman, straight off his Wolverine duties manages to give in an amazing performance showing himself as being vulnerable and human, Zac Efron showing off his chops as a performer, Zendaya showing off her amazing talent, etc. The most impressive find might be Miss Keala Settle. Initially she was a stand-in during rehearsals, but it might have been the best decision for the movie to grand her the role of a lifetime.
I have seen this movie over 20 times by now and listened to the soundtrack on repeat for the last 2 years and I could see it another 20 times. Overall it does what any good entertainment does: it makes you forget about everything bad in the world for at least a little bit. That is an achievement on its own.