My 2018 started off with a bang, and not just because of my New Year’s Resolutions, but because I was able to see The Greatest Showman twice in theaters. It is hard to argue that this new movie is boring or hard to enjoy at any point in the hour and forty-five minutes it flies past your screen. The picture painted for viewers at the beginning is a sold out circus arena, and the oddities of New York in the ring, providing entertainment for the on and off-screen crowd. While this is all happening P.T. Barnum, played by Hugh Jackman, building to the opening moment with the movie’s theme song: “The Greatest Show.” This opening scene is just one of many breathtaking, exhilarating moments in this movie. There is a great variety when it comes to music. Some songs are catchy and quick-witted, and others are slow and meaningful. The music of The Greatest Showman was written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who have achieved success in their previous work in the movie La La Land and the Tony Award Winning Musical Dear Evan Hansen. The songs are a mixture of Broadway smashes and pop sensations, a combination that you cannot help but sing along to. One song that should be mentioned is “This Is Me.” “This Is Me” has already won a Golden Globe for best original song. The song serves as an anthem for the circus performers who were never accepted by society.
Another great aspect of The Greatest Showman was the acting crew. I am slightly biased because my celebrity crush, Zac Efron, played Barnum’s business partner Phillip Carlyle. But really, having a cast with the likes of Zendaya, Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, and many other amazing actors and actresses must have been a blessing for director Michael Gracey, who made his directing debut with The Greatest Showman.
Lastly, the plot itself of The Greatest Showman is captivating and keeps you on the edge of your seat. I cannot give too much away. However, I can tell you this movie has a lesson to share with the world. This lesson would be that you cannot lose yourself in the material things of this world and always want more. Instead, find joy in the people who surround you and the life you live. You can be happy with what you have, yet still strive for success. It is when you become obsessed with always achieving “more” that you are blinded from all that is good in your life. This movie is a must watch, and I highly recommend seeing it when you have an opportunity. After all, “This is the greatest show!”