The Greatest Showman – P. T. Barnum
The Greatest Showman, starring Hugh Jackman is reviewed here by Steph Nickel. Steph states that both she and her husband were “pleasantly surprised.”
The Greatest Showman
The Greatest Showman is described as follows on Google:
“Inspired by the imagination of P. T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman is an original musical that celebrates the birth of show business & tells of a visionary who rose from nothing to create a spectacle that became a worldwide sensation.”
I had heard positive things about this movie when I suggested my hubby and I pick it up on one of our infrequent visits to our local video store. And we were both pleasantly surprised. So much so that we purchased a copy.
Normally, when discovering a movie was a musical—something we didn’t know until we began to watch it—Dave would be thrilled and I … well, me—not so much. The Greatest Showman was different however. Sure, my hubby’s eyes still lit up and he was immediately drawn in. But, strangely enough, so was I.
A Musical Movie
Whether or not the movie is an accurate portrayal of P. T. Barnum’s personality and journey to fame, I don’t know. But I do know that Hugh Jackman does a wonderful job of portraying a believable main character, one the viewer will, at times, root for and, at others, want to give a good shake.
Memorable Song From the Movie
Perhaps the most memorable song from the movie is “This is Me.” It is definitely the song that made the biggest impact on me. It is sung by the societal rejects Jackman’s character plucked from obscurity, those he treated with respect, and gave a purpose.
Was the real P. T. Barnum simply a businessman who used and manipulated people and held to the premise that “there’s a sucker born every minute,” a phrase attributed to him throughout the years?
I don’t know, but I do know that the journey of the group of people in the movie tugged at my heartstrings. And Jackman’s character came to consider them family.
This makes me think of Jesus’s behaviour and relationships when He walked the earth.
He Didn’t Abide by Accepted Norms.
Spiritual leaders of Jesus’s day didn’t associate with those they felt the Lord had rejected. They were filled with pride and revelled in receiving accolades. They were concerned about obeying what is referred to as the letter of the Law, the rules and regulations, but didn’t understand the spirit of the Law, the reason God gave the commands He did.
Unlike these spiritual leaders, Jesus deserved to be worshiped and revered, but instead, He humbled Himself as we read in the book of Philippians. He also understood exactly why the commands and directives were given.
Although Jackman’s character didn’t always do so for noble purposes, he didn’t fall into step with society’s way of thinking and behaving either.
Jesus Interacted With Those Society Rejected.
Fishermen. Tax collectors. Lepers. Women. Children.
While society looked down upon these individuals, Jesus reached out to them and brought healing and wholeness.
Jackman’s character also reached out to the rejected members of society and they were better for it.
Jesus Connected With These People in Shocking Ways.
The Lord was criticized for eating with tax collectors and sinners. The spiritual leaders were appalled when a woman of questionable character anointed Jesus with oil. What must they have thought when He reached out and actually touched a leper? Even His disciples wanted to send away the children who were brought to Jesus. And they had no idea why He would have a conversation with a woman—a Samaritan woman no less.
The greatest showman had to overcome the public’s prejudice. There was a time in the movie he succumbed to it himself. But, as I mentioned, Jackman’s character came to view these individuals as his family.
Jesus Gave Them a Higher Purpose.
While the strongman, the bearded lady, and Tom Thumb may have found a higher purpose in the movie, the purpose Jesus gave many when He walked the earth—and still gives today—will last for all eternity.
A Wide Variety of Backgrounds
God’s children, His family, come from a wide variety of backgrounds and are often society’s castoffs.
Jackman’s character gathered a group of unique individuals. The Lord does the same. His followers, His family, come from several ethnicities, social classes, educational backgrounds, physical and mental fitness levels, and age groups. Let’s not be quick to judge who God is or is not drawing to Himself.
While Jesus’s is sinless and perfect, the greatest showman, of course, is not. The parallels between the two are remote. However, the movie is entertaining; family friendly—for the most part; and can teach us a thing or two.
We can even learn from songs such as “This is Me.” We ought not to judge others or ourselves based on what society says is admirable and beautiful. God made each of us unique for a purpose. However, we must repent of sinful behaviour, accept the salvation Jesus offers, and seek to obey the commands and directives in God’s Word. It is also our responsibility to encourage others to do the same.
And one last comment about The Greatest Showman … if you are planning to watch it with young teens or pre-teens, you may want to preview it first.
Happy viewing!
Contact us or comment below with your own review of “The Greatest Showman.”
Steph Nickel
Steph Beth Nickel is eclectically interested and eclectically involved. In all she does, Steph seeks to nurture and inspire. She is currently working on the first book in a nonfiction series. Nurture and Inspire LOVE is a compilation of the first devotionals she wrote for HopeStreamRadio.
Steph is a freelance writer and editor. She is the coauthor of Paralympian Deb Willows’ award-winning memoir, Living Beyond My Circumstances, published by Castle Quay Books. Deb and Steph are working on a follow-up book.
You can visit her website, stephbethnickel.com, to learn more about her.
Visit Steph’s contributor’s page or at Steph Nickel’s Eclectic Interests.
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Images Courtesy of:
Circus – Free-Photos
Movie Poster – The Greatest Showman
P.T. Barnum – Public Domain
Hugh Hackman – Dirk Thomas Johnson
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