Fair, but America killed the circus that we never really see here.

Rating: 6/10 (4 March 2018)

If you've ever been to the real circus, you'd know that it's far different that the song and dance that we see here. Those looking for a circus will be disappointed - no animal acts, no elephants doing tricks, barely the time spent on high-wire flyers, etc, etc.
It's got singing, but none of the songs rise to the peppy excitement and memorability of La La's.
Overall story is stronger in the 1952 The Greatest Show on Earth. Here, it's more like things move about simply to make the show seem more 'active' than it really is - an illusion. But that's this movie - you think you'll see the circus, but never really do. Instead, you get a drama, songs, interesting sets, etc. and are taken on a different path.
Fair for the modern storytelling that avoids anything that's not politically correct (no tigers, elephants, etc. doing regular circus tricks), typical black female inserted merely for the feel-good (seriously - when she's facing the screen swinging about, they have to specially light and emphasize her face and beauty beyond the other 'weird and unusual' circus performers).
Unique enough for just 1 theater viewing at a discount, otherwise a Redbox rental when there's not many other better movies to watch. Eventually worth 1 watch, but then go watch the award winning 1952 The Greatest Show on Earth.