Jameson Filston, Campus Carrier Arts & Living Editor

PHOTO COURTESY OF 20TH CENTURY FOX

Hugh Jackman starred as P.T. Barnum in “The Greatest Showman.” The film won a Golden Globe for best original song with “This Is Me.” It was also nominated for Best Motion Picture and Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture.

“The Greatest Showman” blew me away in many ways, but it was by no means a perfect show. 

”The Greatest Showman” is the origin story of P.T. Barnum’s (Hugh Jackman) circus. It follows the risks he takes to recruit a cast of misfits and start a successful show. However, the movie showed a fantasized version of the show that removed much of the story’s complexity. This resulted in a story that was less interesting than it could have been. 

I did not plan on going to watch the movie at all, but glowing reviews from friends convinced me to attend the feature. 

I walked into the theater with high expectations for the music of the show. Not only had I heard great things about the soundtrack, but it was written by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek, who wrote the music for “Dear Evan Hansen” and “A Christmas Story, The Musical.” As far as musical performances go, I was hooked from the first note.

The music was part of the reason I went to see the show, so I was not overly surprised by how well it turned out. What did surprise me was the quality of the visuals. The bright colors were riveting, and the dances were crisp and well-executed. 

The showmanship was very strong, which in many ways fit the subject of the film very well. Every time a song began, I was transported to that world of curiosities and wonder. Performances and CGI combined to create a surreal and fantastical experience; I was completely drawn in and accepted the crazy scenes as they came. 

Another area that completely sold me was the acting. Jackman did an amazing job both performing and acting through the dialogue scenes. Philip Carlyle (Zac Efron) and Anne Wheeler (Zendaya) also shone whether they were working out relationship issues while performing on the trapeze or having much more mundane conversations. The cast in general put on a phenomenal performance. 

Unfortunately, there were some glaring problems with the show. The subject matter was changed heavily to focus more on the aspects of awe and wonder, which came at a heavy cost to the plot. The real story of P.T. Barnum is much more complex than the movie version. Movies should adapt original stories to tell their own, but a lot of the impact was lost in translation. 

P.T. Barnum takes a lot of risks in the show, which seem to pay off until everything comes crashing down. However, the arc of the show was so predictable that I think almost any audience member could have anticipated the major plot points for the whole movie after watching the first ten minutes. 

This is not a big deal on its own, but it could have been made into a much more engaging story. Barnum never faces the full weight of the consequences of his decisions, which makes his character a little flat. The subplot of Wheeler and Carlyle’s romance is done better than the rest of the plot, but needed more screen time if the movie wanted to be taken seriously. Their romance was compelling with a great message of equality, but the audience didn’t get to see enough.

It may have been that the goal of the movie was not to be taken seriously, but instead to focus on the showmanship. Either way, the movie missed a big opportunity. Since the risks and plot points lose some of their impact, so do the messages of equality and acceptance. The show had a golden opportunity to focus on the acceptance of the misfits that make up the circus, but they are continually pushed to the side. 

Even when the plot reaches its climax, the movie focuses on how the circus members’ struggles affect Barnum. Their plight never reaches a satisfying conclusion, which is disappointing. 

Overall, it was difficult for me to see past the amazing performances to the shortcomings. The songs were enough to give me the chills, and for that alone the show is worth the admission. However, much like the circus, the movie is a falsehood meant only to entertain. This is a masterfully-executed performance, but nothing more than that.