This is...it?

Rating: 4/10 (1 August 2018)

Contrary to popularly held views that this film is a dazzlement of storytelling, a head rush of spectacle and awe...it is indeed a film pertaining to attempt such things, yet falls woefully short. The movie, much like its varied assortment of characters, is a circus booming with life that never quite understands itself.
How so? There is little to no engagement with characters in this story, as the camera moves fleetingly from scene to scene: one moment capturing the rapture of young love, yet within seconds moving to the illness plaguing the character's father and onwards to the young boys supposed struggle with poverty.
This was covered in seconds, and yet is referred to in the final quarter of the movie - as though we could even remotely engage with the intended effect of these scenes. Much the same could be said for the entirety of the movie: a rush of scenes and characters that entangle one another, and could promise emotions and storytelling fathoms in depth...yet only succeeds in glazing over its stars with a fleeting brush, barely encapsulating even the most momentary glimpses of genuine depth or emotion.
Instead we are bombarded with song after song that attempt to capitalise upon emotional moments, yet because of its erratic pacing, these explosions of sing-song never quite ring true. The husband and wife song was laughable when introduced by the miming children, but to its credit, held far more substance and meaning when Jackman's character was grafting his way out of poverty. The chemistry between Efron and Jackman was evident, yet once again never explored or developed, thus Efron's character taking the mantle of circus master meant almost nothing by the movie's close. Ferguson however, though brief in appearance, enraptured me with her one feature song, the lyrics and performance of which resonated much more strongly and meaningfully than the identity politics driven "this is me" drivel.
This is a classic example of all style and no substance, though it's frustrating to see so much potential for character development (and thus more engaging storytelling) that is never truly recognized. I didn't connect with a single character. Watch it, but watch it with an open mind.