Does the greatest showman

[StealthPolarBear]

Irritate the hell out of anyone else? I have never seen it, but the songs, the pictures and the nafne make me think it will make my toes curl. Is it as cheesy and awful as it looks?

Name. Not nafne.

So cheesy but I love it!!

Me. Loathe it. Not the songs so much but the fact that a really objectionable man who exploited vulnerable people for profit and sport, tortured animals and owned slaves is hailed as a hero a "great" and a boy done good

Also that Simon Cowell now seems to think he's the modern day Barnum and this makes him equally as amazing.

It annoys me that his children don’t age for the whole film which is clearly set over several years. I know the obvious reason for it but it just really bugged me.
But other than that I enjoyed it.

It doesn't irritate me, but I was very disappointed that it isn't as good as Moulin Rouge.

Very mixed views

When it first came out I loved the songs and the visual aspect of it all (the plot of the film is dire though).

However, everyone's 'cover versions' of 'This Is Me', kids doing endless dance routines, every party having a 'Greatest Showman' theme.... Its all starting to get a bit tiresome now!

I haven't managed to watch all of it, gave up after 30 mins. Don't mind the songs when they come up on radio.

It's a visual treat, much like Moulin Rouge, and the music is great, but yes, the plot is a bit meh.

I hated it! I adore Hugh, he’s a lovely kind man but totally wrong imho for the part
Zac should have played the young Barnum then aged up
Hugh looked the same age, as did his kids, through out the film and it ruined it for me
Pants

It's a favourite in this house.

Yes the plot has more holes than Swiss cheese but the musical numbers are fabulous. Hugh Jackman is great, Keala Settle has an amazing voice and even Zack Efron does OK. They clearly spent the entire budget on songwriters and sequins and couldn't afford a decent scriptwriter. (I really don't like the song which Rebecca Ferguson's character sings, but that's personal preference).

I was very disappointed that it isn't as good as Moulin Rouge.

I would never have expected it to be - for that genre, MR is completely perfect.

Have only seen half of TGS - went to a kids sceeening but the twins were miserable so left. Wasn’t overly sad to leave but will probably watch the rest at some point.

I thought same

Then watched it and am coverted

Thought it was rubbish and spent the whole film rolling my eyes. Friend sat next to me was moved to tears. I think it must be a bit marmite.

Not seen it, don't want to, as so much of it is not historically accurate, so I don't see the point of it really. If the truth isn't good enough on it's own, just do a completely fictional one, not a half and half job.

Saw this yesterday with my 12 & 15 yo, we all thought he came across as self-centred and manipulative. The music and direction was quite heavy handed: we could tell when we were supposed to like or distrust a character. It was worth the rental fee but wouldn't want to watch it again, or go to a circus. As a family with health issues we did feel empathy for the people who were shunned by society. (And how come Zac Efron didn't have scars from the fire?)

I love it. The secret is don’t take it too seriously

Everyone I know loves it. Several of my friends went to see it multiple times at the cinema and then bought the DVD.

My family and I watched it just thought it was a bit meh.

I didn’t even think the songs were very memorable.

I’ve clearly missed something as so many people thought it was amazing.

I love it!! I would imagine the plot is nowhere near historically accurate, but the songs are fab and it's just really fun. My children love it!!

It was entertaining hokum and I enjoyed the soundtrack (original songs, so credit to Peysek and Paul) and dance routines.

We watched Oliver! recently. No comparison really as a rounded film.

I really like it, I can see why some people wouldn't but I do enjoy it for some easy entertainment.

Songs are good but fuck me it's an irritating film. He meets his wife in childhood, but in adulthood she's suddenly 12 years younger than him? Michelle Williams is criminally wasted in this film, the script is an insult to her and to all women.

The idea that putting freaks on stage is somehow empowering is laughable.

Do they think, do they think that we're all crazy?

I think it's spectacular, but I haven't seen or heard much from it beyond watching the film so I don't feel that overkill from it. I wouldn't rush to watch it again, but it was definitely worth seeing for the spectacle.

I think people thought it was amazing through a lack of good entertaining films around. If you are not into superheroes and explosions there not much on at the local cinema to appeal to all ages.

The best film I've seen in ages was Spotlight which I saw on TV recently. It was about journalists uncovering child abuse in the Boston Catholic church: compelling but not an uplifting watch.