"The Greatest Showman" Non-Spoiler Review

Rating: 8/10 (24 December 2017)

"The Greatest Showman" is definitely great in most parts with it's flashy and fast paced-fun musical scenes to it's deep and heart pouring drama scenes with just a great A-List cast and crew in this spectacular production. With Michael Gracey directorial debut, he definitely knew how to open up a show. Visually this movie is stunning with multiple incredible shots of the circus in action with various musical scenes scattered throughout in various locations and it's very witty and fun cast to backup this colorful movie making it stand out from the rest of these serious and deep 'oscar bait' movies coming out before the end of the year.
Casting wise everything was amazing. Hugh Jackman put in another perfect performance as the legendary P.T. Barnum with his golden musical voice and cheering smile. With both him looking ragged and practically homeless to being practically prince material he pulls it off to the tee. Alongside with Michelle Williams giving a great performance as his push and support throughout the film and his guide to what he really needs in the world. Even the other cast; Zac Efron coming back into singing where he started with disney amung with Zendaya from the same network, Rebecca Ferguson and Keala Settle both giving full heart and even one spotting one hell of a beard for this film. Singing wise everyone did their own voices and it fit perfectly, my biggest worry going into any musical is the production dubbing in another person's voice and it just not fitting at all.
The sets were beautiful between it's homeless side of the story in the first act to the gorgeous ballrooms and fancy mansions shown throughout the rest of the film as well. The sets also played great places for the cast to sing and dance to. My personal favorite being the first bar scene in the film with the song choice and the choreographed dance scene was just beautiful. Even the dance scenes with every act on the stage was amazing with the long single takes and the amount of objects moving was beautiful. With the use of CGI to build some of the bigger views of the city and some of the landscape, it seems seamless with the match of practical built sets and real props.
The story was great overall, the songs came in at the best parts to drive the raw emotion into the film. The pacing was overall really well done with some small parts that felt dragged out. But immediately followed by an amazing dance sequence or another singing piece. And even when the singing isn't going on they have a beautiful score to keep the pace and drive of the film rolling just as fast as the trapeze performers in the film. With multiple romances of all different degrees and the build of what has sadly closed recently, the circus is something everyone should (or should have) experienced in their lives one time or another and with it gone "The Greatest Showman" is a great substitute to that void that many people will have.
My biggest problem with the film has to be that a few sequences of time passing could've been stretched out with possibly another dance number or something to show the struggle of it being built instead of it just being there out of nowhere. And then there were a few scenes that were dragged out a bit that were attempted to be corrected by a musical number. But for a first time director he did a brilliant job with this warm-hearted circus filled musical.