The Greatest Showman

Parental Rating: PG

Contains: Adult Content    

Jill's Review

Opens December 20, 2017

Runs 105 minutes

Phineas Taylor Barnum (Ellis Rubin - as young P.T./Hugh Jackman as the older P.T.) was born poor but had huge dreams. His father was a tailor, looked down on by the upper class. P.T. had his eye on the daughter of a client, Charity (Skylar Dunn as young Charity/Michelle Williams as the older Charity) from a young age. But, he was always told he wasn't good enough for her. He went out into the world to prove himself and he and Charity married and had children. However, it wasn't until he decided to open P.T. Barnum's Museum of Oddities and Curiosities that he began to find his true calling. He was a true "Showman" who collected people who had no other place to call home and added them to his "circus". Soon, the Bearded Woman (Keala Settle), Tom Thumb (Sam Humphrey) and the Flying Trapeze Artists (Zendaya and Yahya Abdul-Mateen II) were performing to sold out crowds. They were also drawing protestors who didn't understand what P.T. was trying to do. P.T. wanted to be accepted by everyone so he took on a respectable partner, Phillip Carlyle (Zac Efron) and came up with the idea to introduce the world's most amazing singer, Jenny Lind (Rebecca Ferguson) to America. She was a huge hit but almost took down P.T.'s empire. He soon realized what was truly important and with the help of the rest of his family, P.T. Barnum went on to become "The Greatest Showman".

This may not technically be the best movie of the year but it was my favorite, by far. What is there not to like when you have Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron singing and dancing? The movie was big, bold and entertaining. The song and dance numbers were amazing. The songs were catchy and it was fun to see Hugh, Michelle Wlliams, Zac and Zendaya singing such great songs. Nacho Kim and I stayed through the credits to see if everyone sang their own songs and everyone did (except Rebecca Ferguson - she was dubbed). This is just one of those classic films that makes you want to clap after every song and leaves you smiling long after the film is over. And, it is based on true events. Great for the whole family. Run to see this movie. I think I am going to see it again and buy the soundtrack!

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