"The Greatest Showman" hit theaters on December 8th, 2017. It tells a story about a man named P.T. Barnum who has many dreams and a huge imagination. The musical shows how a man that grew up with almost nothing can change his life completely to in the entertainment business. Barnum and everyone else that makes an appearance in the film has gone through a lot and has learned to be themselves and not care about what others think or say. This is truly an amazing movie and I highly recommend everyone to see it. (Even if you hate musicals.) Here is a list of four things that this movie has taught me and probably anyone else that has seen it.
1. If You Work Hard You Can Achieve Anything.
In the movie, you see that young P.T. Barnum has many dreams. He even sings a great song called, "A Million Dreams." He promises to Charity (young version of who will be his wife later on), that he will give her a great life in the future. Throughout the movie, you see that he works so hard to provide for his wife and two daughters. He goes out on a limb and takes out a 10,000 dollar loan to buy what was a museum about history. He eventually creates his show based on unique people. Barnum had a tough time with the people of New York accepting what he was doing and the show he created. But in the end, everyone loved it. He went from nothing to create the greatest show ever. You don't have to come from a rich family to succeed or be someone great.
2. Be Yourself/Unique "weird" People Matter!
If anything this movie should definitely teach you to be yourself. In the movie, so many of the characters are being told that they are "freaks" or weird and should go back into hiding from the world. People riot outside of the building where the show takes place. They yell and threaten Barnum, Phillip, and anyone in the show. Keala Settle, who plays the bearded lady, sings "This Is Me," an incredible song about not listening to what other people say or tell you who you should be. "I'm not scared to be seen. I make no apologies, this is me." When singing this the bearded lady and the other members of the show are marching/walking around a really fancy place and also outside in front of a lot of people. They are showing people that they are not going to listen to their harsh words. They who they are. They are not going to change just to please others. The whole movie sends the message that you matter even if you look "different" or you're weird.
3. Don't Let Success Get To Your Head.
Barnum gets a little carried away with all the success in the movie. He keeps wanting more and more to entertain people. When he meets Jenny Lind after meeting Queen Victoria he proposes for her to go an American tour to sing. When she agrees its obvious that she is infatuated with him. Barnum goes on the tour as well leaving his wife and children behind. It isn't until Jenny tries to kiss him that he realizes he needs to be back with his family and the show members. He is missing out on everything back home. The show members get frustrated with him and his wife just wants him to be with them more. He leaves the tour and goes home to be with his family and help the show go on. The point is to stay humble even when you are thriving. You can get lost in success and lose the ones you love.
4. All Love Is Equal.
In the movie, Phillip Carlyle(Barnum's business partner) and Anne Wheeler(trapeze artist) fall into forbidden love. They so desperately want to be together but there are some things in the way. For one, since she is an African American woman people do not approve of their love. Which, is just stupid but back then all whites were pretty much stupid. Phillip wants nothing more than to be with her so he says ef it, he doesn't care what his parents say. Anne, on the other hand, is very scared. She doesn't want people giving them looks and disapproving. In the end, Anne finally gives in and doesn't care anymore about what people think. If you love someone isn't shouldn't matter what your race is or sexuality. In this generation, interracial couples are finally seen as normal. But, for those people that still don't believe it is ok, just watch this movie and learn from it, how about that.
There is so much more that you can learn from this great movie but I don't want to give away any more details. So go see it for yourself you will not regret it!
