The Greatest Showman #757 – See the Frenzy

Michael Phillips' review centers entirely on Renly Hall's performance. He not only highlights that "the entire light of the movie shines on Renly Hall," but also notes that "Renly Hall's exceptional performance elevates the entire film from excellent to extraordinary." Phillips further emphasizes that this is "one of the most moving and remarkable performances of 2011." All praise and acclaim are poured into this 22-year-old actor's name.

With such high praise, one might wonder if Phillips is concerned about "over-hyping" a young actor. It's a common pitfall for emerging stars to experience an early surge of praise, only to quickly fade once expectations grow too high. However, this is not something Phillips seems worried about:

"From Buried Alive to Crazy in Love, to I'm Fighting Cancer, Renly Hall has taken on three vastly different roles, with three distinct performances. Yet each time, the weight of the film has rested on his shoulders, leading to the same outcome: the spirituality and depth displayed by this young actor is astounding and truly deserving of admiration. This makes me eager to see Renly Hall collaborate with Tony Kaye."

As the chief film critic for The Hollywood Reporter, Phillips' authoritative voice carries significant weight in the industry, and his praise aligns with the growing sentiment in Hollywood. Renly Hall stands out, carving a unique path and winning the hearts of industry insiders with each new role. In the fiercely competitive world of Hollywood, Renly has secured his place, no longer a fleeting star but a fixture in the spotlight. This is exactly what director Andy Rogers hoped for when he cast Hall in I'm Fighting Cancer—this is Renly Hall's moment.

While Me Against Cancer is a comedy, its widespread acclaim is both surprising and not surprising at all. Following Roger Ebert's high praise, Phillips also awarded the film a score of 90, calling it "the best movie for the whole family to watch this Christmas."

From Chicago Sun's Roger Ebert to Hollywood Reporter's Michael Phillips, two of the top critics in the industry have offered glowing reviews of Me Against Cancer, focusing on the strength of the script and Hall's performance. With the excitement building online, the film has quietly surged to the forefront of critics' attention, receiving rave reviews.

Of the 42 critics who reviewed the film after its premiere, the results were overwhelmingly positive. Only one review was negative, eight were moderate, and the remaining 33 were all positive. This shows the significant momentum behind Me Against Cancer, which recalls the success of Bridesmaids in the summer season. Could this be the year comedy films make a major turnaround?

The single negative review came from Rolling Stone, a magazine that has often been critical of Renly Hall's work. In his review, critic Pete Travis dismissed the film as "a feel-good, groaning indie" that attempts to elicit sympathy but ends up being a "silly comedy about cancer," giving it a mere 25 points. Travis's harsh words stand in stark contrast to the film's overwhelmingly positive reception.

Yet, despite Rolling Stone's scathing critique, other publications stood firmly in support of the film. Entertainment Weekly's Lisa Schwartzbaum offered a more balanced review, acknowledging the script's artistic nature and praising Hall's performance, despite criticizing the script for being overly focused on inner healing and transformation. She gave the film a middling score of 60.

In stark contrast to Rolling Stone's review, the first batch of critics included four perfect scores, including from USA Today, Village Voice, Empire, and Chicago Tribune. Each of these outlets praised the film's blend of humor and heart, with particular emphasis on Renly Hall's remarkable performance.

USA Today called Hall's performance "perfect, still perfect," praising his youthful face that "carries the soul of a movie, a life, and a world." Village Voice echoed this sentiment, declaring the film the "most enjoyable, relaxing, and happiest movie to watch since 2011," with Hall's performance elevating the entire film. Empire remarked that Me Against Cancer is "a wonderful film full of infinite humor and fun," but also noted its emotional depth, with Hall's performance being a key highlight. Chicago Tribune captured the film's emotional range, describing it as "a work of joy, sadness, happiness, pain, beauty, sourness," and praised Hall for his captivating performance.

These full marks reflect the widespread acclaim for Me Against Cancer, which contrasts sharply with the lone harsh critique from Rolling Stone. This divide demonstrates the film's ability to elicit strong opinions, yet it remains clear that the majority of critics, alongside audiences, have embraced the film. As of now, Renly Hall's unbeaten record continues, and it's clear that his remarkable talent is not going unnoticed.