If you've got a pre-teen or teen, you might have been getting BUGGED about taking them to see The Greatest Showman. Featuring former Disney stars, it seems to have traccked to that age grouping.
After checking out some reviews, and deciding as long as I viewed with her, it would be ok for her under 11 age, I took Miss Grace this past weekend to see it.I have to admit I was suprised at home many moms were there with their tweens and teens, our showing was almost a packed house! Knowing that is was a musical, I was happy to see THAT much interest!
Here's a peek at the movie:
The movie is best described as a MUSICAL drama that tells a re-imagining of PT Barnum's life. But it does SO SO much more than that:
1. Wolverine has an AMAZING singing voice. Yup, your teen may be in AWE at Hugh Jackman. But he did start in musical theatre, so no surprise really.
BUT not everyone in the show DID do there own singing, so you may find yourself having a discussion about historically who really sang in musicals, and who didn't (I was crushed as a kid to find out that Mami Dixon had sang the songs in my favs like The King and I and An Affair to Remember).
(As an aside, if you're kid is REALLY into musicals, you can make them part of your music education, thanks to Music in Our Homeschool's Intro to Musicals class!)
(As an aside, if you're kid is REALLY into musicals, you can make them part of your music education, thanks to Music in Our Homeschool's Intro to Musicals class!)
2. You may have to do a LOT of explaining and teaching with this movie. But in a GOOD way! Why? Because it touches on so many areas! We literally had a one hour discussion on the way home about how historically accurate it was (as far as time period and social norms), and how the movie showed the possibility of the 'American Dream', and what it mean for establishment of a true middle class.
Seriously. All that from a MOVIE!
3. It might just intrigue your child to do research, and more research. Miss Grace saw the Barnum and Bailey Circus a few years ago and she was SHOCKED when I told her it lasted 148 years and closed. She wanted to know why. And as any homeschool mom knows, sometimes life just hands you an essay for writing work! LOL. Yup, her project this week is to find out why they closed and what facts it was accurate about. I admit to being a research junkie (blame the nuns), so if I can get my kid to WANT to hunt out answers and find the answers for herself? Oh yeah, we're THERE!
4. It's a decent movie. Miss Grace declared it her all time fav, but I think most of that was due to the music, that had her entranced the whole way through. And make no mistake, the music is a HUGE key- you'll find yourself singing the songs long after leaving the theatre. Especially if your kid insists on stopping so they can buy the soundtrack, or downloads it so they can play it on the car system! LOL, yes she did!
5. When was the last time you could take your kid to a movie that wasn't a cartoon, that didn't have violence or sex scenes? Yes, there may be some innuendo, but there is nothing OVERT, in your face. The violence? Fisticuffs and a mini-riot. NO oozing blood or body parts on display. And let's not forgot my other top peeve- kids who talk back/sass/ignore parents. The kids in this movie not only respect their parents, but they HELP in the deneavor to get the show up and running. Then when one has issues over class, her parents, and crew, help her to see what is right and overcome petty nonsensical brats, to be the person she can be. Those 3 reasons alone are worth seeing a film the WHOLE family can like!
That triple combination is pretty much why I think the reviews have been so-so. It's NOT a typical Hollywood movie, nor does it pander to ONE audience. Yes, it might not be historically accurate, but that is what documentaries are for. This is entertainment, as as we know facts don't always read into that! It's meant to entertain, not inspire arguments and protests. The best films INSPIRE you to find out more and seek out knowledge, and this film DOES. So as far as we're concerned, it has succeeded!
An additional reason, is if your child is in dance, or takes music lessons, you are gonna be hearing and seeing the songs from this movie, so might want to know context now, LOL Seriously, Miss Grace was choreographing Irish dance routines to the songs, in her head, before we left the theatre!
Overall it was an enjoyable film, and neither one of felt like we didn't GET the $20 worth from the tickets!
So if you're looking for a film to see this week, check out The Greatest Showman! You JUST might find yourself surprised at home much your family likes it!
5. When was the last time you could take your kid to a movie that wasn't a cartoon, that didn't have violence or sex scenes? Yes, there may be some innuendo, but there is nothing OVERT, in your face. The violence? Fisticuffs and a mini-riot. NO oozing blood or body parts on display. And let's not forgot my other top peeve- kids who talk back/sass/ignore parents. The kids in this movie not only respect their parents, but they HELP in the deneavor to get the show up and running. Then when one has issues over class, her parents, and crew, help her to see what is right and overcome petty nonsensical brats, to be the person she can be. Those 3 reasons alone are worth seeing a film the WHOLE family can like!
That triple combination is pretty much why I think the reviews have been so-so. It's NOT a typical Hollywood movie, nor does it pander to ONE audience. Yes, it might not be historically accurate, but that is what documentaries are for. This is entertainment, as as we know facts don't always read into that! It's meant to entertain, not inspire arguments and protests. The best films INSPIRE you to find out more and seek out knowledge, and this film DOES. So as far as we're concerned, it has succeeded!
An additional reason, is if your child is in dance, or takes music lessons, you are gonna be hearing and seeing the songs from this movie, so might want to know context now, LOL Seriously, Miss Grace was choreographing Irish dance routines to the songs, in her head, before we left the theatre!
Overall it was an enjoyable film, and neither one of felt like we didn't GET the $20 worth from the tickets!
So if you're looking for a film to see this week, check out The Greatest Showman! You JUST might find yourself surprised at home much your family likes it!
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