20th Century Fox recently released “The Greatest Showman,” a biographic-musical drama that flings itself into the limelight this holiday season.

With its dazzling performances from Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron and Zendaya, the film manages to wow audiences with its charm and star-studded cast. The tunes were composed by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, the team of Tony and Academy Award winning songwriters who wrote the music for the film “La La Land” and the Broadway musical “Dear Evan Hansen.” So as expected, the music does not disappoint and becomes stuck in audiences’ heads.

Directed by Michael Gracey, “The Greatest Showman” is inspired by true events. Hugh Jackman plays a charming P.T. Barnum who loses his job and begins investing in a museum. After meeting Charles Stratton (Sam Humphrey), a man with dwarfism, Barnum invites him and the bearded lady, Lettie Lutz (Keala Settle), to join what is now a show. Barnum soon brings together an ensemble of outcasts who defy the societal norms that set them apart from others. Barnum’s rising fame brings new struggles when he has trouble deciding what his priorities are.

Through the use of vibrant colors along with smooth and creative transitions, the film is a very pleasing experience. The cinematography is definitely something to applaud. The musical numbers explicitly showcase these elements, especially with the “Come Alive” sequence and “This is Me,” performed by Tony-nominee Keala Settle.

Made for a much younger audience, the film takes some creative liberties and makes the decision not to depict any of the problematic aspects from the real-life P.T. Barnum and the Ringling Brothers’ traveling circus company, which ended it’s 146-year run in May of 2017.

Though an enjoyable film, “The Greatest Showman” does not leave any of the characters close to its audience’s hearts. The film, however, does an excellent job at creating such uplifting and unforgettable musical sequences.