Why THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is a Great Show

I don’t typically chime in with my opinion by movie reviews, but with the recent release of THE GREATEST SHOWMAN on DVD – and the continual panning by movie critics – I decided to go against my own grain in order to support a movie that offers up several beautiful and important life lessons (and all to a great soundtrack). No, the movie isn’t a “Christian” movie, but it certainly demonstrates some great examples of the way each of us should strive to see and relate to others.

God made each of us beautiful, and it is our responsibility to bring out that beauty in others.

In order to make his show great, Barnum seeks out the “freaks” – the people that normally remain hidden with shame because of their differences, those who don’t fit in or are rejected by “normal” people – and he puts them in a show for all the world to see. Bennett, the critic, who never has anything positive to say about Barnum and his oddities, nevertheless sees the beauty in what Barnum has done. He tells Barnum plainly, “I never liked your show. But I always thought the people did… Mind you, I wouldn’t call it art… But… putting folks of all kinds on stage with you – all colors, shapes, sizes – presenting them as equals… Why, another critic might have even called it a ‘celebration of humanity.’” And that is a great description for the members of Barnum’s show, because the truth is that we are ALL flawed, because we are all human. But it is in our varied humanity that our true beauty shines.

Even more importantly than simply bringing these unwanted souls out into the open, though, is the fact that Barnum draws them together in a place that becomes a family – a place where they can belong. And this is what the church is called to do: not to find the flaws in people and then either reject them or pressure them to be changed and “fixed,” but rather to draw them into our family and love them. We are to take outsiders and make them insiders.

We shouldn’t allow class, race, or other differences to keep us from being in relationships with other people.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN gives us a great example of accepting people as they are and entering into relationship with them, which is a lesson every one of us needs. In a world far too often divided by what makes us different, we need to see examples of people being united in friendship, united in their working relationships, and even united in their love for each other. Of course, Christ himself is our first example of how to relate to others. Remember the Samaritan woman? The lepers? The tax collectors? In Jesus’ day, these were the outcasts of society – the ones who were hidden or reviled. Yet they were the ones that Jesus chose to spend time with. He didn’t do it at the expense of his other relationships. He still befriended the wealthy, leaders in the religious and secular arenas, and regular every-day people as well. But he didn’t allow the popular crowd to tell him who he could and could not spend his time with. Rather, he looked for those who most needed to know the love of God, and then entered into relationship with them.

Be confident in who God has created you to be – flaws and all – and don’t allow the cruelty of others to define you.

One of the biggest hit songs from THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is entitled “This Is Me,” and I have no doubt that this song resonates with people all over the world. So many of us struggle with who we are, and the flaws we see in ourselves (and, unfortunately, that others love to point out to us). But the truth is that, although flawed, we are beautiful creations of God Almighty, and HE is the one who defines us and gives us worth and value. We can stand brave and confident, even in the face of pain and discouragement, knowing that we are beloved children of God. When confronted with people who want to tear us down and make us feel worthless and unwanted, we can sing with Lettie:

Family is important, and we shouldn’t allow work or other temptations to draw us away from our family commitment.

From the very beginning, THE GREATEST SHOWMAN presents P.T. Barnum as a dedicated family man, devoted to his wife and children. The family works together to create the show, with all of them brainstorming ideas, handing out fliers, and seeking out performers. Charity and the girls are Barnum’s biggest fans, encouraging him when he feels like he is failing and faithfully attending his performances. This strong family relationship provides an anchor for Barnum and an example to us in a world where far too often family holds little importance and family members are drawn in different directions rather than joining together in a common goal.

In the course of gaining success, Barnum falls to the temptation of the fame and fortune he amasses, allowing it to pull his attention away from his family. But in the end, it is the anchor of their love that rescues him from his pit of pride and restores joy, even in the face of great business losses. THE GREATEST SHOWMAN reminds us of the importance of family, of the priority that we should place on those we love, and of how our lives are better when they are lived together in mutual love, respect, and support.

We should acknowledge our sins, seek reconciliation from those we’ve wronged, and return to the right path.

Any author will tell you that a great protagonist is one who is flawed and who grows throughout the course of the story. This is one of the things I like most about Barnum, because he reflects what people are really like: even good guys make big mistakes. More than that, though, Barnum recognizes his wrong-doing and makes things right, in the best possible way – by going personally to those he has wronged, asking their forgiveness, and changing his wrong ways in order to be completely restored in his relationships. Each of us should live by this example. We WILL mess up. We WILL hurt those we love, we WILL make serious mistakes that cause our relationships to be broken. But that doesn’t have to be the end of it. Reconciliation awaits us when we are willing to admit our sins and ask forgiveness. And thanks be to God, who is faithful to restore us again. We should also take a lesson from those who have been wronged. They never tell Barnum, “It’s ok” – because it isn’t! It isn’t “ok” that Barnum has hurt his friends and his family by his actions. However, when faced with true repentance, the other characters are more than willing to forgive and try again.

THE GREATEST SHOWMAN is largely fictional, and though scattered through with real events and people from the life of P.T. Barnum, it should definitely not be taken as a historical representation of truth. Indeed, the true Barnum was quite flawed and should not be held up as a hero after whom we ought to pattern our lives.  Explore the history of the man Barnum for yourself, apart from the fiction offered in the film, and you will see a man like all others, with good and bad mixed in. I’m not offering a critique of the man himself, but of the values that this movie presents quite apart from the real P.T. Barnum. 

In spite of his faults, though, P.T. Barnum did stand for truth in his later life as a politician, particularly during the Civil War. Barnum is wrongly remembered as saying, “There is a sucker born every minute.” A better, and true, quote with which we might rather remember the man is this one, spoken before the Connecticut legislature on the issue of slavery: “A human soul, ‘that God created and has died for,’ is not to be trifled with. It may tenant the body of a Chinaman, a Turk, an Arab, or a Hottentot – it is still an immortal spirit.” THE GREATEST SHOWMAN doesn’t present a completely accurate history of P.T. Barnum, but it does live up to the spirit of this quote, presenting a cast of characters representing a variety of human souls, created and loved by God – a cast of characters we can route for, sing along with, and learn from.

*Parental guidance suggested: There are a few negative aspects to this film, including the drinking of alcohol, swearing during one of the songs (one word used several times in one song only), and using deceit to get a bank loan. Please check pluggedin.com to make sure the movie is a good fit for younger members of your family.