The Greatest Showman

An impressively engrossing contemporary musical, The Greatest Showman follows Hugh Jackman’s P.T. Barnum as he opens a circus populated with oddball characters and must subsequently balance his newfound success with his personal life. Filmmaker Michael Gracey does a fantastic job of immediately drawing the viewer into the briskly-paced proceedings, as The Greatest Showman kicks off with an energetic and completely irresistible musical number that effectively (and instantly) sets a tone of larger-than-life escapism – with the pervasively affable vibe perpetuated by Gracey’s flamboyant visuals and a series of thoroughly charming performances. (In terms of the latter, Jackman’s typically spellbinding work is matched by a strong supporting cast that includes Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, and a scene-stealing Zac Efron.) The movie’s propulsive narrative does begin to crumble apart upon heavy (or even light) scrutiny, admittedly, and the various protagonists aren’t quite developed beyond their most outward attributes, and yet The Greatest Showman grows more and more engrossing before reaching its expectedly over-the-top finale – which certainly does confirm the picture’s place as a far better-than-expected bit of family-friendly entertainment.

***1/2 out of ****