'THE GREATEST SHOWMAN': Three Stars (Out of Five)

A period musical about how P.T. Barnum started the Barnum and Bailey Circus. The movie stars Hugh Jackman as Barnum, and it costars Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson. It was directed by debut feature filmmaker Michael Gracey, and it was scripted by Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon (Condon is also well known for his writing on musicals like 'DREAMGIRLS', 'CHICAGO' and the 81st Annual Academy Awards). The film has performed modestly at the Box Office, and it's only gotten mixed to negative reviews from critics, but it was nominated for three major Golden Globe Awards (including Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Actor - Comedy or Musical, and Best Original Song). I like how the movie deals with making outcasts into heroes (of course), but I always take offense to animal cruelty (like a circus is obviously guilty of). The film as a whole is a decently made musical, but nothing more.

The story revolves around the immensely ambitious entertainer, and showman, P.T. Barnum (Jackman), and how he convinced a bunch of outcasts to be a part of his show. Which famously became the first circus (later becoming the traveling 'Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus'). The movie of course deals with all of the hardships he faced, and opposition from society. It also deals with Barnum's romantic and family issues at the time.

The film is an entertaining musical, if you like musicals, and it's packed with colorful musical performances. Jackman, Efron, and others, are of course talented entertainers, and musical performers as well, so you can't argue that they weren't well cast in the movie. I also (of course) always find stories about making outcasts into heroes inspiring. The film doesn't introduce animals into the circus act, until the very end of the movie, but I (of course) have issues with that, and circuses in general too. The movie as a whole is decently made, and a mildly amusing musical.