Episode 42 – The Greatest Showman (w. Kelly Fulcher)

Amber Elby appoints herself Ringmaster in order to compel Charlie, Adam, and guest Kelly Fulcher to watch the 2017 film The Greatest Showman. We discuss the right way to create fantasy/historical fiction, the overt critical meta-commentary, and *swoon* Zac Efron. Will the grouchy first-timers dig in their heels and hate on this popular musical, or will Amber whip them into line like so many CGI lions?

Clarifications:

You can see what our guest Kelly Fulcher is up to via A Choired Taste and the Tempe Community Chorus!

Amber would like to point out that she would rather have chosen Tenacious D in the Pick of Destiny as her recommended modern musical. It’s a bold choice, if nothing else…

We did also discuss whether to allow animated films in the “musical” category, but that discussion is cut for time. It really widens the field but a couple of us objected to that!

Also on the cutting room floor: everyone liked Zac Efron and we talked about High School Musical for a bit longer than was warranted. Well, more specifically High School Musical 2, which Kelly assures us is the best of the series.

Adam recommends Paint Your Wagon within the show and would love you to check out this clip of Lee Marvin’s performance.

Things We Reference:

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog (2008)

La La Land (2016)

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

Enchanted (2007)

Once (2007)

Moulin Rouge! (2001)

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)

Mary Poppins (1964)

The Master (2012)

She’s All That (1999)

Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)

Crash (2004)

Venom (2018)

Dick (1999)

Brokeback Mountain (2005)

Blue Valentine (2010)

Meek’s Cutoff (2010)

Mary Poppins Returns (2018)

Star Trek Beyond (2016)

Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)

Paint Your Wagon (1969)

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968)

Team America: World Police (2004)