I'm definitely not a teen and I loved it. Not normally the sort of music I listen to, but the songs worked well in the film and I have listened to the soundtrack a few times since. When available the film will be my first disk purchase of 2018.

I just felt the whole "we're going to take over the world" vibe from Barnum's gang of "human curiosities" was very similar. I appreciate your thoughts. Obviously a bunch of people have loved it.

@Daddie0 said:

I just felt the whole "we're going to take over the world" vibe from Barnum's gang of "human curiosities" was very similar.

I see what you mean, but none of the main cast were teenagers so I didn't get a "teen" vibe.

Having consulted https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:2010s_musical_films it appears that this generation are sorely lacking a "Fame". Obviously I'm not familiar with all the films, but a quick look suggests that the most "Fame"-like ones were dying gasps of older franchises: Glee, Camp Rock, Step Up. Not seen anything of the latter two, but I'm assuming CR was squeaky Disney- clean and that SU majored on lots of grinding dance moves. From what I remember of Fame (I saw it on release and probably again on VHS so a long time ago!) it was fairly smart and had something to say as well as being fun, though the TV show toned down any edginess. Come to think of it, that's the path that Glee seemed to be heading down: the first season was quite grown up, but it seemed to get toned down - I gave up when it started to be mainly about what a tough time Kurt was having, though may get around to the eps I haven't seen one day.

Anyway, filmakers! This generation needs it's own "Fame".

How is Zendaya in this??? Her performances (singing and acting)?

@Satch_the_man said:

How is Zendaya in this??? Her performances (singing and acting)?

Singing: She gets a duet with Zac Efron, "Rewrite the Stars" and then is (presumably) in the cast songs. If you don't mind spoilers, check it out here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdjR2lvIfJ4 or someone has put up what appears to be the sequence from the film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwYRqbUn7zg. Not particularly my sort of music, but her singing is nice enough.

Acting: Again, fine. It's not really the sort of role that you can judge someoene's skills on. She definitely acts well enough for the role and doesn't come over as wooden.

I have to admit that her character confused me a bit, as I got the impression that she was surprised that any man (let alone a rich white dude) would be looking at her. I know times were different back then, but surely they had mirrors?

@M. LeMarchand said:

@Satch_the_man said:

How is Zendaya in this??? Her performances (singing and acting)?

Singing: She gets a duet with Zac Efron, "Rewrite the Stars" and then is (presumably) in the cast songs. If you don't mind spoilers, check it out here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gdjR2lvIfJ4 or someone has put up what appears to be the sequence from the film https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwYRqbUn7zg. Not particularly my sort of music, but her singing is nice enough.

Acting: Again, fine. It's not really the sort of role that you can judge someoene's skills on. She definitely acts well enough for the role and doesn't come over as wooden.

I have to admit that her character confused me a bit, as I got the impression that she was surprised that any man (let alone a rich white dude) would be looking at her. I know times were different back then, but surely they had mirrors?

Philippe, thanks. And you know, if this Anne character looked anything like Zendaya does, I couldn't agree with your last point more.

@M. LeMarchand said:

I got the impression that she was surprised that any man (let alone a rich white dude) would be looking at her.

I don't know - I think that the fact that it was a white dude was the point.

However - and I think this may have been one of the contributory factors in the film's success - it didn't ham-fistedly push it's morality above just making it a fun sing along family film.

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

However - and I think this may have been one of the contributory factors in the film's success - it didn't ham-fistedly push it's morality above just making it a fun sing along family film.

Really? I found it quite ham-fisted and super preachy.

@The Midi-chlorian Count said:

@M. LeMarchand said:

I got the impression that she was surprised that any man (let alone a rich white dude) would be looking at her.

I don't know - I think that the fact that it was a white dude was the point.

However - and I think this may have been one of the contributory factors in the film's success - it didn't ham-fistedly push it's morality above just making it a fun sing along family film.

I wondered about Zendaya's character, what made her a freak?

Also...although I enjoyed the film I did feel that it did push its morals through the songs. And quite the contrary, that helped the film's success. The most popular song, this is me, highlights this. But it's a good message so nothing wrong with that, just felt a bit off knowing that Barnum (in real life) was out for himself exploiting these people.

I wondered about Zendaya's character, what made her a freak?

She and her brother were trapeze artists. Barnum's production had a traditional circus, as well as a carnival side show.
They were "freaks" only in regard to their race since it was the late 1800s, shortly after the civil war.

@cpheonix said:

But it's a good message so nothing wrong with that, just felt a bit off knowing that Barnum (in real life) was out for himself exploiting these people.

I made the effort and read a book of "wisdom" by Barnum after viewing this film and having this conversation...yeah, fair to say they were majorly re-writing some history with this interpretation. I doubt if he were here to view it he would recognize himself.

@M. LeMarchand said:

I'm definitely not a teen and I loved it. Not normally the sort of music I listen to, but the songs worked well in the film and I have listened to the soundtrack a few times since. When available the film will be my first disk purchase of 2018.

I loved it too, especially the music..