The Greatest Showman film review

My first trip to the cinema in 2018 and I feel like I've already found my favourite film of the year. The Greatest Showman celebrates the birth of show business & tells the story of the people who had risen from nothing to creating something that became a worldwide sensation. All I've heard is good reviews about this film and I have to say I only have one word and that is spectacular! I'm never really into the whole musical genre but there was something about watching this that I absolutely loved. From start to finish people barely stop singing, dancing and flicking around the iconic top hat. Starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Zendaya and Rebecca Ferguson.

I currently can't stop listening to the soundtrack! The whole cast were deeply committed to entertaining. From the opening sequence of the film, you are uplifted with an astonishing soundtrack that can only be giving you goose bumps.

The latest creation from 20th Century Fox tells the story of Phineas T. Barnum. A young tailor's boy portrayed as a hero with great ambition and a head full of dreams. We do catch a glimpse of Barnum (Jackman) in the spotlight surrounded by his circus fame before flashing back to a rough childhood on the streets. Although he still manages to win the heart of the rich girl, Charity (Williams).

As a grown man working in a trading company he now dreams for a better life for them both and his two daughters, Caroline and Helen. It's not until the trading company goes bankrupt Barnum builds his ambitions and sets out to get a $10,000 loan from the bank to open a wax museum, but when this fails to take off and goes to bust, It's only until his young daughters speak out and suggest that their father puts more 'alive things' into the museum that things take a turn for the better.

Barnum recruits a collection of 'unique individuals' who are portrayed as 'freaks' by the rest of society and are left as outcasts. Although soon enough the cast produces a musical number followed by huge success.

The massive success of entertaining crowd after crowd leads to Barnum changing the name of the museum to 'Barnum's Circus' after being inspired by the word used from a snotty critic's review. Life for Barnum and his family couldn't be happier as he purchases the childhood dream house of Charity's and his self.

Barnum recruits a partner, an 'overpaid apprentice' Philip Carlyle (Efron) and sooner later the cast gain a huge reputation that the Queen of England, Queen Victoria invites them to the palace. This is where Barnum meets the amazingly talented and the stunning opera singer Jenny Lind. Barnum persuades Lind to participate in his show. The show wins over the crowd and after seeing this reaction, Barnum gambles all he's built and begins to go on tour with Jenny Lind which leaves Carlyle to take over the circus.

As this threatens his marriage it also threatens his performers back at the circus as they are suffering more vicious attacks from the local protesters with their disapproval and repeat that the performers are 'freaks'. Barnum's fortune and ambition turns upside down.

A relationship between love and hate, of course they had to have a few songs thrown in to express themselves. Also don't forget the love blossoming between Carlyle and performer Anne Wheeler (Zendaya).

Barnum dreams of making the world a magical place and there's a lot to be said through the emotional story.

Hugh Jackman plays an outstanding job and is surely suited for the part of Phineas T. Barnum. Before Jackman was an X-man, he was an award winning musical star. The delightful aspect of performing arts had never truly faded in Jackman's eyes. Of course we all know where Zac Efron began his fame so there is no doubt that he'll fall back in love with the musical stage.

The Greatest Showman so far has received mixed reviews alongside with praise for the cast, music and production. What is not to love this film? It has already received nominations for Best Motion Picture and Best Actor. It has already won one Golden Globe for Best Original Song "This Is Me". The soundtrack appears to be heading for a second week at number 1 on the Billboard 200 chart. From January 2018.

If this doesn't convince you then I don't know what will. Go and experience the wonders and magic of PT. Barnum's Circus in the Greatest Showman.