Heartwarming, Perfect Showcase Of What A Musical Movie Should Be

Rating: 10/10 (22 December 2019)

The Greatest Showman really surprised movie. Back in 2017, I was quite pumped for I was one of the minimal people who actually knew about this movie before its release. After its mixed reviews, alike to this years Cats, I decided not to see it until a matinee in January. Over time, this film has become one of my favourite films of all time. Although it is filled with historical inaccuracies, it really creates a out of this world experience where you feel overcommed with joy on a pretty sad topic.
The film opens to a mysterious Circusman doing an introduction to his circus (we know its hugh jackman, we just do not know his character name yet) (The Greatest Show). The film then flashbacks to several years prior, where a boy works with his father inside of a rich family's home. The young boy falls in love with a girl named Charity, however she is being sent to Boarding School elsewhere. The two write letters to each other over the years. The boy's father dies as he is left in poverty. Now older, the boy, named PT Barnum (Hugh Jackman) asks the girls fathers hand in marriage before he elopes with his new wife, Charity (Michelle Williams) (A Million Dreams).
PT works for a shipping facility, which goes bankrupt. That night, PT returns home to Charity and his daughters: Caroline and Helen. As it is Caroline's birthday, PT creates a makeshift toy viewed as a wishing machine. The two children wish and dream vividly using their imaginations (A Million Dreams (Reprise)). PT sees a vision through the shadows of the machine and takes out a loan to create Barnum's American Museum: A wax museum for the unbelievable. Sales are minimal. PT realizes that he needs something alive to perform. He meets various figures including Lettie Lutz, The Bearded Lady (Keala Settle) (Come Alive).
The show is a massive hit. Due to a word used in a rather pessimistic review, Barnum changes it to be called Barnum's Circus. Searching for further financial success, Barnum asks Phillip Carlye (Zac Efron), a theatre producer, to join his team in exchange for ten percent of the company (The Other Side). Immediately, Carlyle is taken in a trance by Anne Wheeler's (Zendaya) beauty and talent. On a trip to England, Carlyle arranges for Barnum and the troupe to meet Queen Victoria. Victoria laughs maniachly at one of the jokes made by one of the circus freaks, Tiny Tom. Barnum then meets Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson), where he invites her to perform back in manhattan under his name. She accepts (Never Enough).
At the afterparty, Barnum bickers with Charity's parents, much to Charity's dismay. Barnum is praised for his works with Jenny, and forces his troupe performers into segregation from the other party guests. The troupe, led by Lettie, shows no mercy to social barriers (This Is Me). Carlyle attempts to go on a date with Anne, but is berated for his actions by his parents. Carlyle chases Anne back to the circus, where they announce their love for each other (Rewrite The Stars). Barnum decides to go on tour with Jenny, leaving Carlyle in charge of the circus. At the same time, Charity feels isolated and forgotten by Barnum (Tightrope).
On her tour, Jenny feels a rising sexual tension between her and Barnum. He informs her that he could never love her. There, Jenny cancells the rest of her tour and kisses Barnum in front of the press (Never Enough (Reprise)). Barnum returns home to Manhattan only to find the circus in flames after protestors set it aflame after that nights performance. Carlyle runs into the circus, thinking Anne is still trapped inside, but is saved by Barnum. The next morning, the press release the picture of Jenny and Barnum kissing and Charity leaves Barnum alone. At a bar, Barnum talks to Tiny Tom as the troupe enter the bar and celebrate the fun they had (From Now On). Barnum realizes he must rekindle his relationships and apologizes to Charity, which she accepts. Carlyle concieves the idea of putting the circus inside a tent, for the world to see. Barnum leaves the circus to Carlyle, while he enjoys life at home with Charity and his daughters (The Greatest Show (Reprise)).
The Greatest Showman is nothing short of a masterpiece. It is intriguing and will leave you going through all of the motions. Now saying you wont leave the film singing "This Is Me" or "Rewrite The Stars" at the top of your lungs is a stretch, but there is no dud in the soundtrack composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Although Barnum was not a good man in anyway, we see an optimistic side of him in this film. Every performance is well acted and the voices are superb. It is nothing short of a musical masterpiece. It is unfortunate it will probably never transfer to broadway, for there is already a PT Barnum musical named Barnum.
The Greatest Showman gets a 10.