ViewGuide

Created Jul 03, 2019 06:32AM PST • Edited Jul 13, 2019 06:03AM PST

1. Quality

2. Summary

   OK 2.5

   The Greatest Showman is …who again… Hugh Jackman or P.T. Barnum? This is Barnum’s biopic but Jackman’s show, designed to feature who? Jackman, singing and strutting as only Hugh Jackman can do.

   The Greatest Showman’s greatest problem is that Jackman likes to be liked. Unfortunately, likable isn’t a term one associates with P.T. Barnum, the promoter associated with “There’s a sucker born every minute.”

   Jackman does put on a hell of a show, an old fashioned musical with touches of contemporary wokeness. Yet it’s all kinda incongruous. Plus the songs aren’t great, barely memorable actually. If you’re gonna do a musical, at least one song better be great. Musicals are a tough sell with a great song, but hopeless without.

4. Acting

   Good 3.0

   Hugh Jackman is a multiple threat, sure, yet a P.T. Barnum who smiles a lot and often breaks out in song isn’t the best use of his particular set of skills. But he’s only got himself to blame. The Greatest Showman was made for one reason and one reason only: to be a star vehicle for Jackman. He doesn’t disappoint.

   • Michelle Williams is winsome as his wife, Charity Barnum. Yes, her name was Charity.
   • Zac Efrdon sings some himself and looks great per usual. The man is handsome, and can act.
   • Zendaya simmers as a fetching trapeze artist, a role from central casting.
   • Rebecca Ferguson is diva-esque as singing sensation Jenny Lind. Ferguson first impressed in Mission: Impossible – Rogue Nation.
   • Keala Settle plays the Bearded Lady. Yep
   • Sam Humphrey plays General Tom Thumb, Barnum’s first bona fide star.

5. Male Stars Very Good 3.5

   Jackman

6. Female Stars OK 2.5

7. Female Costars OK 2.5

8. Male Costars OK 2.5

10. Film

    OK 2.5

11. Direction Good 3.0

12. Play Barely OK 2.0

13. Music OK 2.5

    Pasek and Paul

14. Visuals Great 4.0
15. Content

16. Edge

    Risqué 1.7

17. Sex Titillating 1.6

18. Violence Fierce 1.6

19. Rudeness Salty 1.8

21. Reality

    Glib 1.3

22. Circumstantial Glib 2.0

23. Biological Natural 1.0

24. Physical Natural 1.0