Michael's Movie Grade: C+
Review: An entertaining movie that is fun to watch, but still makes you feel it could have been better.
This movie does have quite a bit going for it. Our main character (yes I know P. T. Barnum is a real person but this is a fictionalized version of him) is highly enjoyable and likable. We understand his struggle and relate to him on that level very well. Throughout this whole film I always believed this character and felt emotionally involved in him. The main story while cliché is charming and enjoyable. It is a simple story and its charm is in this basic simplicity that we can all relate too. The musical numbers aren't as beautifully choreographed as can be seen in any number of films from Hollywood's golden age, but they are big and feel big. They make you understand why audiences would have easily been attracted to this type of entertainment and this is something that is essential to this movie working as it helps you accept what you see on screen. The songs themselves (while admittedly are not my type of music) are well written and always help to advance the story.
On the downside, while P.T. Barnum is very well developed, the other characters don't seem to be given this luxury. At the end of the movie, I did not feel like I knew any of them. On top of this the subplots with them feel very rushed, undeveloped and cliché. It is true that the main story also is cliché, but since it is more developed it doesn't feel as obvious as this problem is in the subplots. One romance especially seems to come out of nowhere and all of the sudden become a big part of the story. Those who have seen enough movies will also know everything that is going to happen in this romance. Another subplot about ballet seems horrible forced in and we are not allowed enough time personally with the character this subplot is about to become emotionally attached enough to this story point.
All and all this is a fun movie, but one that could have been quite a bit better.
-Michael J. Ruhland
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