Watched on Disney +

Sooner or later, everyone is confronted with the issue of exclusion. Be it in tender childhood at school or even as an adult who is looked at askance for optical reasons and excluded from certain social groups. But how do you manage to process such a tricky and detrimental, but no less important topic into a heartwarming film for young and old? Quite simply: by knitting a musical out of it. At least that's what the people behind "The Greatest Showman," a musical film starring Hugh Jackman as U.S. circus pioneer P.T. Barnum, thought. Michael Gracey, who is making his directorial debut with this flick, had a big job on his hands. To tell the extensive story of this man in a 97-minute film while still leaving enough room for song and dance interludes. A task in which one or the other aspect could quickly be neglected.

The fact that Hugh Jackman is not only known for extending his adamantium claws, but is also a gifted dancer with a golden throat, could be seen in the past in films like "Les Misérables" or live on Broadway and events like the annual Tony Awards, where the former Wolverine actor shows everyone present what a stylish little dance should look like. I myself was able to see him in May 2019 as part of his "The Man. The Music. The Show." Tour in Berlin and it was a great evening that I always look back on fondly.

This musical and dancing talent made him seem like the perfect choice for the main cast of "The Greatest Showman". And this choice pays off completely, because Jackman not only plays the role of the ambitious Barnum in a spirited and bravura manner, but also manages to convey such a radiant aura that the audience is always infected by this benevolence during one of his swinging acts and is seduced into wanting to witness this atmospheric procedure live or even to shake a leg themselves. Just as "La La Land" did, Gracey opens the film with a musical act that is perfectly choreographed to make it immediately clear to the audience what direction the journey is taking.

This opening performance is followed by a simple cut and the audience jumps back to his childhood along with Barnrm. From now on, the classic success story is told. The characters that accompany Barnum through his life story seem to be very simple, but considering the fact that this is a family film that has no intention to tell an extremely sophisticated story, this clearly drawn good/evil constellation can be tolerated. Much more the message for the (young) viewers is in the foreground. For here, above all, the diversity of human nature is celebrated and the omnipresent existence of intolerance is criticized. A small-boned fellow, a bearded lady or a guy covered from head to toe with tattoos. People who are stereotyped and ostracized by others because of external characteristics. "The Greatest Showman" does tell a story that has its roots in the early 19th century, but this falsely judgmental thinking is still present today. The film has some fine moments that call attention to this intolerant thinking, but as the film progresses, it unfortunately loses sight of this goal and dismisses the audience with a severely downplayed portrayal of events. Yet the issue of Barnum's prototype circus resembling a freak show, where one man profits through the appearances and even disabilities of his fellow man, was elegantly resolved with meaningful songs like 'This Is Me'.

As for the rest of the songs, they've brought out the heavy guns here and let them fire at a high frequency. There is a lot of singing during the 97 minutes. So often that you as a viewer almost get tired of the music towards the end. However, this does not change the fact that the songs are sung unprecedentedly and overwhelmingly, exude extremely high energy and thus wonderfully complete the almost fairytale-like production. By the way, the great lyrics were written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, who also had their hands in the songs for "La La Land". The actors sing with full gusto and as an audience member, you thoroughly buy into the convictions and motivations that are in the songs. Even the modern influences in the music are appropriately matched to the setting of a resurgent 19th century New York, and while they alienate the historical image, they enhance the often excessive atmosphere of the film in return.

In addition to Hugh Jackman, other Hollywood stars dance and sing their way through "The Greatest Showman". Among them are Michelle Williams as Barnum's wife, Rebecca Ferguson, who makes you believe it is her who presents her powerful operatic voice as singing sensation Jenny Lind (it actually is Loren Allred), and Zac Efron as a man from a good family, who strengthens the cabinet of curiosities. It was also the first time I saw Zendaya and immediately recognized acting/singing talent. But all the actors do their job excellently, even if Efron's High School Musical character shines through in some of the tracks. But overall, the cast delivers a great package of acting, dancing and singing, in which especially the actors of the extraordinary circus people often grab the spotlight.