The musical biopic "The Greatest Showman" received mixed reviews from fans and critics after its release on Dec. 20. Most positive reviews center on the star of the movie, Hugh Jackman, who portrayed the great P.T. Barnum.
The movie tells the story of Barnum and the birth of show business. The movie included a lot of talents from both the film and music industries. Jackman was joined by talented stars like Zac Efron, Zendaya, Golden Globe Awards recipient Michelle Williams, and more. The original soundtrack of the movie was produced by songwriting duo Pasek (Benj Pasek) and Paul (Justin Paul), the same brains behind "La La Land's" Academy Awards-winning soundtrack.
Despite the big roster of stars, most of the good comments from fans and critics were pointed directly at Jackman's performance. According to Common Sense Media, "The Greatest Showman" was not flawless but Jackman's portrayal for the character was unique and "inimitable." Jackman was also praised for the level of charisma he brought to the role and to the entire movie. Some critics even indicated that Jackman was the only thing good about the musical drama movie.
A number of movie experts pointed out that the storyline of the movie was not well executed and that it lacked finesse.
"The Greatest Showman" received a 50% score rating from Rotten Tomatoes, 3 out of 5 from Common Sense Media and The Guardian, and a 7.8 out of 10 from IMDb.
The movie also received three Golden Globe Awards nominations. The movie is up against "The Disaster Artist," "Get Out," "I, Tonya," and "Lady Bird" for the award for Best Picture — comedy or musical. Jackman is nominated for Best Performance by an actor in a musical or comedy movie. The movie's original song "This is Me" is also up for the Best Original Song category.
