“Ladies & Gentlemen this is the moment you’ve been waiting for…”

A movie beginning with words like those amp up your expectations pretty high– especially when its own title offers promises of the “greatest” ever seen– and The Greatest Showman doesn’t disappoint. The opening scene launches into an elaborate performance straight away, sweeping the audience into one of P.T. Barnum’s dazzling shows, his acclaimed circus. But the spectacle is revealed to be nothing more than the fantasy of young Phineas Taylor Barnum, a lower class boy in love with a wealthy girl named Charity, struggling to balance dreams that far outrank his station.

As Barnum (played by Hugh Jackman) grows, so do his dreams, though his financial situation does not greatly improve. Seeking to provide for his beloved family after losing a bland bank job, Barnum channels his sense of imagination and remaining funds into operating a wax museum. Although ultimately a failure, he quickly learns that his entrepreneurial venture needs a little more life in order to be a success.

After a spark of inspiration while encountering society’s outcasts, Barnum sets out to capitalize on the nature of human intrigue and recruits a spirited band of oddballs and misfits to headline a “freak show.” When his ambitions eventually pay off and the show becomes a massive success, Barnum is thrilled to finally be able to give his family the life they deserve, but will the demands of spotlight result in Barnum becoming too caught up in fame and fortune?

Throughout The Greatest Showman and its soundtrack, multiple values and lessons are highlighted. The three most prominently featured through the entirety of the movie are having confidence in who you are, allowing yourself to dream big, and appreciating what you have in life while valuing love and family over material things. The musical numbers in The Greatest Showman work together beautifully to illustrate the magic of a dream being put into action.

As Barnum chases his own dream, the stellar soundtrack breathes life into his journey and adds depth to the emotions and attitudes of supporting characters. One story particularly enhanced by song is the budding romance between star-crossed lovers Philip Carlisle and Anne Wheeler, played by former Disney Channel stars, Zac Efron and Zendaya. In their wistful tune “Rewrite the Stars,” we’re given a glimpse at the pressures of class imposed on the pair and how they’re lives feel confined to the fate society has written for them in a fashion that dialogue could never do justice.

Other memorable songs include “A Million Dreams,”  “Come Alive,” and Golden Globe winner “This is Me,” written by Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and sung by Keala Settle. The showstopping ballad has become an anthem of self-empowerment with heartfelt lyrics that emphasize the importance of being true to yourself and embracing your flaws no matter how the world may view you.

Although critics have slammed the film for sugarcoating a true story that features exploitations that, in reality, were the subject of many ethical concerns, they are missing the point entirely. The Greatest Showman, a passion project for lead actor Hugh Jackman that spent years in the making, does not set out to tackle the tricky moral issues surrounding 19th-century circuses, or even to be some cinematic masterpiece. Like Barnum’s show, it is here to entertain and does not try posing as something it’s not. Instead, it is an unapologetically vibrant expression of love and life. It is full of enough wonder to capture the heart of anyone who watches it, all while championing acceptance of oneself as well as others. When it comes to feel-good family movies, what more could you ask for?

The Greatest Showman was released in theatres on December 8, 2017 and became available on DVD in the United States and Canada April 10. DVD copies can be purchased at most major general merchandise stores starting from $14.99.