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

[WhatToDoAboutWailmerGoneRogue]

IrmaFayLear Think someone got out the wrong side of bed this morning!

[BingTheButterflySlayer]

It's good in a fluff with a good soundtrack kind of way... the plotline jumps around badly and doesn't hang together brilliantly but the songs and routines save it.

I'm only getting sick of it as the kids are fucking obsessed and I'm going rapidly mad to the soundtrack of an out of tune Million Dreams from that alone.

[bigKiteFlying]

I had to drag my family to see it. I liked it - they all loved it to point they drove me batty playing songs for next month.

[TokenBritPoshOfCourse]

The soundtrack to my life currently is ‘Alexa, play The Greatest Showman’, followed by three separate children caterwauling along.

Well, and me. I also caterwaul. Don’t judge me, the sings are very catchy.

[Frosty66612]

Surprised to read that it has only been the 9th most successful film of the year at the box office. Black Panther sold over 70 million tickets more than The Greatest Showman.
Ready Player One also did better too which I thought was garbage.

[musicinthe00ssucks]

DD6 begged me to watch it with her and we absolutely loved it. Totally cheesy but pure escapism. We have the soundtrack in the car and DDs love singing along. It makes us happy

[ijustwannadance]

The CGI was awful. Watched it with 7yo.
She just liked the songs. Film itself was pants.

DD was not impressed when he buggered off with Rebecca Ferguson. "But he's married!" yep. Selfish arsehole.

Had a good conversation about racism/slavery though as she didn't understand why Zac wasn't allowed to go out with Zendaya.

[TheOriginalEmu]

@Forgetwhaticameinherefor hope that works...

[Halebeke425]

Love musicals and had high hopes for this. Genuinely do not understand the hype and actually think of it as one of the worst films I've ever seen. I was sat watching it thinking I've been massively pranked and it was some sort of conspiracy to pretend it was good.

DD on the other hand absolutely loves it and has watched it about 50 times. Luckily she has a portable dvd player with headphones.

Combination of forgettable songs, terrible acting, very corny scenes but the worst thing was the main character and story itself - man exploits vulnerable people for his own gain, makes a series of bad financial decisions that effect his family and 'employees' (that he never pays) but always gets bailed out with seemingly no consequences, oh and fucks off on tour with a woman he clearly fancies leaving everyone else to deal with everything. And I'm supposed to like this guy?! Cgi was bad too. Don't get it sorry!

[TheOriginalEmu]

the 'people take things to seriously' reply to things always makes me a bit .........we're talking about an exploitative, abusive man and it does a dis-service to the people he exploited and abused to not take it seriously. I used it as a stepping stone to a discussion about lots of things with my 14 year old DD. If you don't want to do more than to watch it as a bit of fluff fine, but don't make insinuations that it makes me a kill joy to find it quite gross in some ways.
I also find it weird that the voice of the actor who plays the dwarf was over dubbed.

[Halebeke425]

Also didn't know at the time that it was based on a true story which makes it even worse! Why glamorise it? I think it should be renamed The Greatest Con Man and not fluff over the dark bits, then maybe I'd get it.

[BlooperReel]

Eldest DC adores it and has watched it repeatedly. Even youngest DC wanders around singing some of the lines from the songs.

[UterusUterusGhali]

I loved it! And I hate that kinda shit usually.

Saw it with my 16yo and 8yo and it's one of the few things we've all enjoyed equally.

I want to see it again but in the cinema as I don't think it'll be as good on DVD. I don't want to go to a sing-a-long either; it was bad enough with one person quietly singing when I saw it.

[UterusUterusGhali]

Hale, he's why we talk about the "Barnum effect".
It's very sanitised. I take it as pure fiction tbh.

We did have a conversation about the real man on the way home.

[PolkerrisBeach]

I take it as pure fiction tbh

Which is EXACTLY what you're supposed to do! It's not supposed to be a hard hitting biopic exploring issues and challenging attitudes. It never claimed to be a faithful retelling of the story. It's a fluffy, colourful musical full of catchy songs and great dancing.

I also thought it was heaps better than La La Land which all the critics were falling over each other to say was the best thing since since bread. It wasn't. It was a snoozefest.

[Mookatron]

I'm torn because although I think it is basically about how as long as everyone is entertained pretty much anything is OK and you don't need to worry about anything serious (dreaming with your eyes wide open), that the female characters are either madonnas/whores, and that I can't bloody stand autotune, the songs are quite catchy and my kids like it and said their favourite character was the bearded woman. So I dunno.

[Moonkissedlegs]

Had a good conversation about racism/slavery though as she didn't understand why Zac wasn't allowed to go out with Zendaya.

To be fair, that whole story line went over my friends head as well. I don't think she realised that Zendaya is black!

[UserX]

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

It all sinks in though. Did his wife do anything in the film besides smile and say yes, dear? And protect the children from his excesses? Did any of the women get a say?

[Sophisticatedsarcasm]

My DS 10 who has asd usually only watches action movies absolutley loves it. My Dd 5 won’t stop singing a million dreams, I have downloaded the soundtrack. Most of us love it our house and of course zac efron is in it so makes it all the better 😊

[MrsJayy]

Lala land was the smugest film I have ever seen in my life

[PinguForPresident]

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

Eh? The dancing is fabulous and Hugh Jackman was in musicals long before he was in movies. As a total unknown he played the lead in the revival of Carousel at the National Theatre back in 1988. You don't get that sort of part with a poor voice. He won a Tony for Boy from Oz in 2001. He's really bloody good.

I'll give you the fictitious storyline bit, though.

[Lollyb86]

*X

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

It all sinks in though. Did his wife do anything in the film besides smile and say yes, dear? And protect the children from his excesses? Did any of the women get a say

*
Is it not a reflection generally of the time it was set?
I don't allow DD to think this is what should be happening now.
It's just a film to enjoy and song along to.

[Halebeke425]

I really wanted to like it but it just wasn't for me. I think a big part is the music not being my cup of tea, I can look past loads of issues if I love the music.

I don't judge anyone else for liking it though. And it's brought my daughter lots of joy so not a total waste of time/money!

[mzmum78]

I'm glad others liked it too! Look I know it wasn't Oscar worthy cinematic history but I just found it such a feel good movie
I guess I also watched it as a fictional piece and not really an accurate bio of Barnum (i mean I googled Jenni Lind as she did NOT look like that !!)

[MrsJayy]

Jenny Lind was quite "homely" wasn't she where as Rebecca Ferguson was like an Auburn Angel