Step right up and get your tickets, folks! The Greatest Showman has somersaulted into theaters with Hugh Jackman portraying the legendary P.T. Barnum.

Forever The Underdog

The audience will learn that P.T. Barnum (Jackman as an adult and Ellis Rubin as a young man) was always an outcast in the Victorian era of the United States. Despite losing his father at a very young age, Barnum's passionate imagination and storytelling helped him pull through a troubling time.

He earns the trust and love of his childhood sweetheart Charity (Michelle Williams as an adult and Skylar Dunn in the flashbacks). Against the wishes of Charity's Tremaine like father, the couple marries and has two adorable daughters.

Barnum decides to build a museum to make sure to provide that he starts a risky venture: a circus that features uncanny performers.

Powerful Performances

Jackman commands the screen as Barnum and turns in one of his best performances of his career. Joining Jackman in the cast is an excellent group of performers.

Williams shows tenderness and vulnerability as Charity Barnum and shares superb chemistry with the ringmaster. Zac Efron and Zendaya created electricity, as the star-crossed couple Phillip Carlyle and acrobat Anne Wheeler. The audience would be blown away by the actors' superb performance of "Rewrite the Stars," where the former Disney stars take to the skies.

Keep an eye on Keala Settle, who portrayed bearded lady Lettie Lutz. Settle stole the film every time she leads the ensemble in "This Is Me" and "Come Alive" and she is going to have a bright career after this film.

Pasek And Paul

The Greatest Showman's strongest moments come from its 11 musical numbers in the film. The film's opening "The Greatest Show" excellent set the tone of the film and audience will be transported to Barnum's colorful world.

All credit to The Greatest Showman's music goes to the songwriting team of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. The duo brought both Dear Evan Hansen to Broadway and La La Land to the silver screen.

Currently, Pasek and Paul are nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for "This Is Me," and the millennials' version of Howard Ashman and Alan Menken could sweep the award season.

Screenwriters Jenny Bicks and Bill Condon delivered an excellent screenplay that brought this film to life. Just like Barnum, they make the movie a dark horse candidate in the awards race.

The Greatest Showman will leave audience's hearts filled with hope, happiness, and inspiration, and if you cannot make to Broadway, see the most excellent show on the silver screen.

Grade: A

Tags: Hugh Jackman Zac Efron Zendaya Michelle Williams