Usually, I'm not a fan of movies with a predictive plot, but somehow this movie managed to convince me.

Rating: 8/10 (3 January 2018)

In my opinion, "The Greatest Showman" is a good, solid movie. It's not the best I've seen, but it's on my list of "I'd-like-to-watch-it-again-sometime-movies".
The plot surely is predictable: The poor but goodhearted, upbeat guy without a job experiences what success, especially success from what you love to do, feels like. He wants more and more, he wants a bigger audience, people from all social classes to like his show and in the end, he wants too much and ends up losing it all. Then he notices his mistakes, returns to his true friends/crew and they help him build it all up again. So cheesy, so foreseeable. But somehow, this movie still got me walking out of the theater with a happy smile on my face.
Yes, this movie can be exaggerating at some times. Especially in the end. Where did the lions come from? Why is Hugh Jackman riding on an elephant? Well, all I can say to that is: Who cares. I, for myself, like exaggeration in movies, so I didn't care. After all, it's a musical.
The message of the movie is good. It tells you to not only accept, but appreciate the things that differenciate you from others, even though others may find it weird. People are going to look at you either way, so you might as well shove it in their face and have fun - that's what the show is about (mostly). Hugh Jackman is really celebrating humanity at all its diversions.
What I also very much liked were the choreographies and the camera angles. There were some very cool and surprising effects, that were just fun to look at. They made me feel like I was in the audience, watching the show live.
In the end, all I can say is that this movie is a predictable, good and solid musical. It made me smile, and catched my attention. It's maybe not the most outstanding musical there is, but sometimes you don't need that.
If you are looking for an upbeat, fast-paced movie that makes you forget about the real world for a short time, then I'd totally recommend this for you!
Also, there is Zac Efron singing in a musical again. I do not want to compare this to High School Musical at all, but if you're in for Zac Efron dancing and singing again, then go for it, that's all I'm saying. ;)