‘The Greatest Showman’ Is a Fairy Tale… With Humbugs
The Greatest Showman Hugh Jackman is P.T. Barnum in ‘The Greatest Showman.’In any story about author, entrepreneur and showman Phineas Taylor Barnum, audiences should anticipate humbugs — and that expectation is fulfilled in The Greatest Showman . This entertaining musical, starring Hugh Jackman , relies mostly on legend. In its imagined rags to riches story, P.T. Barnum ’s knack for self-promotion is outstripped only by his humanity toward his unusual performers, the Bearded Lady (Keala Settle), the Lucasie albino family, General Tom Thumb (Sam Humphrey), and the African-American trapeze artist Anne ( Zendaya ). Flawed by a tacked-on subplot (with Zac Efron ), and an inexperienced director, the movie will nevertheless charm young audiences. Know more