By Kelsey Rogers, Assistant Living & Arts Editor
It’s no surprise that I’m a fan of musicals. There’s something about soundtracks that can be extremely addicting. Broadway tickets can get expensive, though, and not everyone has the budget to afford to see every popular show that takes the stage.
Hollywood has capitalized on this by making adaptations of Broadway hits, raking in millions of dollars while bringing the joy of the production to theaters at a more convenient rate.
Hollywood has also crafted the concept of movie musicals for original motion pictures. Last December, “The Greatest Showman” was released as a musical film providing a theatrical take on the backstory of P.T. Barnum, the founder of Barnum & Bailey’s Circus that would later became the Ringling Bros. and become known as the greatest show on Earth.
Starring Hugh Jackman as P.T. Barnum, audience members are taken through Barnum’s life as he attempts to form a museum to provide his family with a better life, later using individuals deemed as “freaks” by society to provide entertainment. The shows are a success and Barnum is suddenly able to provide his family with everything they could have ever dreamed of.
Fame and wealth suddenly get to his head. Because of his rough childhood as the son of a poor tailor, Barnum feels compelled to seek approval from the wealthy and elite. They view Barnum as a con man and undeserving of their attention. Desperate to feel like he belongs, he seeks a partner in a rich playwright played by Zac Efron.
The two end up receiving an invitation from Queen Victoria due to the show’s growing population. On a whim, Barnum invites famous opera singer Jenny Lind to accompany him to the United States and perform in his show in order to gain the approval of the social elite.
Meanwhile, Zac Efron’s character, Phillip Carlyle, is overcoming issues of his own with the social elite. Already facing disapproval from his social class due to associating with Barnum, Carlyle finds himself falling in love with a trapeze artist in the show, played by Zendaya. He is unable to publicly display his affection for her because he is afraid of backlash. Zendaya’s character feels like Carlyle is embarrassed of her, causing strain in their relationship.
The film itself made me emotional from start to finish. The opening number immediately left me in awe with its use of visuals and various camera shots. It truly captures the mesmerizing feeling that the circus is widely known for.
I won’t lie, I started tearing up after the second song. I immediately found myself rooting for Barnum, hoping that the rest of the world would see his genius. As the film progressed, I found myself wanting to scream in the theater because he kept making stupid decisions. Without giving away any spoilers, Barnum undergoes some serious character development and the viewers are taken through an adventure as he attempts to overcome them.
This movie was set up for perfection with such an amazing cast: Hugh Jackman, Michelle Williams, Zac Efron, Zendaya and other standout leads. Jackman had a high expectation after amazing performances in the movie adaptation of “Les Miserables” and “Oklahoma” along with other box office hits such as “Wolverine.” I would never expect this cast to mesh together so perfectly, but somehow they pulled it off flawlessly.
Take a moment to add “The Greatest Showman” to your movie queue if you’re in the mood to get emotional and jam out to an amazing soundtrack. You’ll find yourself crying during one song and filled with happiness the next. You’ll also have some of the songs stuck in your head for the next few days.
Overall, this film receives four out five stars. I will definitely be re-watching this in the future and will probably cry just as hard as I did the first time.