The Greatest Showman is one of the best films I've seen in ages ?

[mzmum78]

I'd seen the odd trailer when this was released and thought it looked ok so it was on my radar but was never motivated to watch it . My sister absolutely raved about it so this weekend we had a rare day all four of us home with no plans so we watched it.
Have to say we all loved it (from 6year old boy to 9 year old girl and both parents including dh who typically falls asleep). Usually i sit and Mumsnet during kids movies but we all watched this all the way. We’ve played the songs all weekend and talked about how great it was a few times!

The cinematography, dancing , singing is all beautiful but I also loved the positive message about being yourself and the “this is me” song has me listening over and over

[UserX]

Yes another really great film where a white man saves everyone and all the women run around doing his bidding. Perfect for your daughters. 👍

[CutesyUserName]

I went expecting to be wowed (having heard how wonderful it was) and it left me cold. I thought the songs were repetitive and the singing/dancing predictable. I found parts of it pretty cringeworthy and most of it really cheesy. I really wanted to like it :(

[CutesyUserName]

Having said that, I hated Mama Mia for the same reasons, so I guess musicals aren't my thing.

[Lollyb86]

*serX

Yes another really great film where a white man saves everyone and all the women run around doing his bidding. Perfect for your daughters.

*

Actually my DD is more interested in the dancing and singing and generally twirling around to the music than worrying about white male oppression 🙄

[ForgotwhatIcameinherefor]

Which YouTube video is this? Can Emu or Sadie link? x

[Zebraantelopegiraffe]

Yes the total re-writing of Barnum as a great guy who just wanted people who were different to shine! I didn’t know much about Barnum before the film but read up on him after I watched it. Totally took the shine of the film for me.

[Ohyesiam]

It was a true schmaltz fest, with extra cheese and added romanticism.
I found the 2d characters really dull, and the exploitation of the disabled characters rewritten some sort of equality drive really cringe. Ditto the anachronisms.

BUT I was moved by This Is Me, the bit with ( something like) This is who I’m meant to be was really succinct and a good anthem for believing in yourself.

[MrsJayy]

We didn't realise from the trailers it was a musical so me and Dds went for something to watch on a wednesday night omg it is amazing i cried most of it it is so i uplifting a proper warm your cockles film Dd2 bought the Dvd recently might have watched it a million few times.

[nancy75]

I fell asleep half an hour in and DD turned it off after an hour - it really wasn't for us!

[Frosty66612]

I loved it too. I normally hate musicals (hated mamma Mia so much) but I had some time fo kill one afternoon and it was the only film on at that time at the cinema. I ended up seeing if twice more and have got the soundtrack on my phone

[lastnamefirstfirstnamelast]

We watched the making of it on DVD, i cant believe they started writing it in 2009! Also I think this is me was written in a day x

[MrsJayy]

Actually my DD is more interested in the dancing and singing and generally twirling around to the music than worrying about white male oppression

Lolly 👍

[greendale17]

It’s a good film as long as you can ignore the slightly sickening re-writing PT Barnum as some kind of loveable rogue and not the disgusting slaver he was.

^I completely agree

[MyRelationshipIsWeird]

I went to see it with DP and we didn’t realise it was a musical either. As it started he said “as long as it’s not a musical...” ...cue the singing! However we both loved it and have watched it multiple times at the cinema and at home.

I know the songs are cheesy, I know the dancing is shit, I know Huge isn’t the best singer technically speaking, and that it bears no resemblance to the actual facts of the story of P T Barnum. But I give no fucks because it’s uplifting and rousing and full of joy.

The scene in the bar with Zac Efron and Hugh Jackman effectively lap dancing for each other is one of my faves, as is the last one “From Now On” but no, actually “Rewrite the Stars” is so beautiful I just don’t want the scene to end. It’s all just brilliant!

So no, YANBU to love it, but Canada is BU for not promoting it as heavily as we have here - there are singalong showings, open air movie showings and it’s one of the few films I will happily watch over and over.

[MrsJayy]

The stage play Barnum re wrote the exploitation first it isn't a historically accurate film. Jungle book is about an abandoned Indian child but it is a classic

[MyRelationshipIsWeird]

the exploitation of the disabled characters rewritten some sort of equality drive really cringe in fairness he does say “they’re laughing at you anyway kid, you might as well get paid”. I think it’s quite clear that he’s exploiting them, the way he keeps them shut out of the drinks reception and keeps them hidden in the stalls, as they’d be “too visible” in the boxes. Then he runs off with Jenny as soon as he senses another money making opportunity. Obviously he’s portrayed as a likeable character but not without flaws.

[MrsJayy]

Yes it is full of joy. Katherine Jenkins sang Never Enough at the classical Brits on Sunday it was a total joy

[mydogisthebest]

Saw at the cinema with DH and we both loved it. When we got home I immediately bought the cd and pre-ordered the dvd.

I loved the music, the songs and the dancing.

I have been playing the cd non stop.

[Frosty66612]

I hope they do a west end show of it

[IWishIWasShrek]

Love it xx

[MrsJayy]

It is heading to Broadway apparentley

[IrmaFayLear]

My word, can’t believe that people liked it.

Poor story (eg why did all the “freaks” suddenly love Barnum when previously he’d barred them from his fancy do? And the Jenny Lind aspect was undeveloped and fizzled out).

Bad cgi.

Attractive and fit young “freaks” - not at all freaky.

Patronising and clodhopping racism story.

All in all very High School Musical and not suitable for anyone over seven years old or with a brain cell.

[Frosty66612]

Guess I don’t have a brain cell then.

Some people need to not take films so seriously

[MrsJayy]

Were you expecting a film with Hugh Jackman and Zac Efron about the invention of circus to be a bit more high brow irma

[mydogisthebest]

Maybe I should tell all my friends and family that enjoyed the film (all older than 7) that they have no brains cells!