Granted I’m a bit late to the show, but last night I finally went to see what all this major hype was over the new film The Greatest Showman. Most people that I’ve talked to have been more than once, some have been four or five times. That’s almost fifty quid spent on their tickets alone. Not to mention the food and beverages consumed with it. Madness. With this knowledge though, I was ready to be impressed and knew I’d be highly disappointed if it didn’t live up to my steep expectations.
While writing this at my desk I have the soundtrack playing on repeat. It’s 9:25am and I’ve already listened through the entire track list three times. Once while getting ready and prancing around my room pretending that I can sing and dance, longing to be talented enough for the west end (just one performance, I think it’d be fun). The second listening came on my drive to town, blasting it out of my car stereo and, having now nailed the correct lyrics, singing at the top of my lungs not caring who’s looking in and laughing. The third now, while writing this with a big grin filling my face and happiness working it’s way down my veins.
If that last paragraph doesn’t scream out how much I loved the film, then while watching not once did I want it to end (despite being exhausted with backache), tears filled my eyes on numerous occasions and I wasn’t at all disturbed by the bearded lady that I had been forewarned about. In fact all I thought was what a cracking voice she has! Barnum’s (Hugh Jackman) two daughters were the cutest little girls and the first tears came during their rendition of ‘A Million Dreams’. More followed during Barnum’s casting and acceptance of the ‘oddities’, those not allowed to be seen in public even by their own parents – how dare they? Even more came when Barnum was being a sod and didn’t allow them into the upper class party so they stormed in singing anyway.
As you are probably fully aware now, I was very impressed. The show was great, the story very interesting and a good depiction of the time in which it was set, despite critics claiming that it doesn’t do the story-line justice nor effectively express the celebration of humanity. Yes, through a twenty-first century lens the actions of Barnum appear deranged and mean, the act of singling out black people as ‘odd’ is extremely racist and using these people’s peculiarities for his own financial benefit is cruel, but in my opinion that’s not the point of the film.
Personally I’m with the public on this one. The story is set in a completely different time to today, besides, if we don’t hang too tightly to the Barnum story, the film claims that he was doing a good thing in the view of his cast. That’s the message I take from it. He may have seen it as a money making ploy, but they saw it as a purpose and him giving them friends, even family that they’d have never found in society if it wasn’t for him. Plus he learns that he’s a bit of an arse eventually and changes his ways.
The message that no matter how different you are, you will always find your people, a group of people who love you and accept you for exactly who you are. That’s what I took away, and that’s why it’s such a feel-good film. Not to mention the eye candy in Hugh Jackman and Zac Effron, who I’ve not seen the sparkle in until this film. If you’ve not already been, go go go. I’m off to listen to every single song, all over again.