Hairspray

Plot synopsis:
In May of 1962, Baltimore teenager Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonksy) prepares for school while displaying optimistic appreciation of her drab neighborhood in which she sees so much beauty ("Good Morning Baltimore"). Tracy, who has a passion for dance and bouffant hairstyles, is something of a social outcast among her classmates because of her chubbiness, but her best friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) shares Tracy's obsession with the after-school dance program The Corny Collins Show, which features a group of teenage dancers known as the Council Kids and is sponsored by Ultra-Clutch brand hairspray. The show is broadcast live on Baltimore's WYZT station and, despite the progressive opinions of Corny Collins (James Marsden) himself, remains a segregated program featuring only white dancers except for the last Tuesday of every month, which is designated "Negro Day." Tracy and Penny rush to Tracy's house after school to watch the show ("The Nicest Kids In Town"), much to the annoyance of Tracy's mother Edna (John Travolta), who works from home as a laundress and refuses to leave the house because she is ashamed of her voluptuous size. Edna shows concern for her daughter's interest in dance, fearing that people will mistreat her because of her weight. Penny's paralyzingly strict mother Prudy (Allison Janney) also disapproves of The Corny Collins Show, but mainly due to her own racism and the fact that pop music is becoming more and more influenced by R&B styles.Sharing Prudy Pingleton's disdain for "race music" is Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer), the manager of WYZT and domineering mother of the snobby, aggressive Corny Collins dancer Amber (Brittany Snow). Though Corny Collins defends his music choices and believes the show should be integrated, Velma refuses to consider it and constantly pushes for her daughter to be featured above all the other dancers. Several of the teenagers on The Corny Collins Show attend Tracy and Penny's high school, and Tracy in particular is star-struck and swoony whenever she catches sight of Link Larkin (Zac Efron), the show's main heartthrob and Amber Von Tussle's boyfriend.Tracy is ecstatic when Corny Collins announces that one of their female dancers is taking a leave of absence (for "just nine months") and invites any interested girls to come to the station for an audition. Though Edna attempts to talk Tracy out of the idea, Tracy's father Wilbur (Christopher Walken), a joke-shop proprietor, is more supportive and encourages his daughter to go after her dreams. Tracy and Penny cut school the next day, and following a brief dance test,Tracy is dismissed by Velma Von Tussle due to her weight and her support of integration. Velma is blissfully detached during the audition process as she reminisces about her glory days as a pageant queen ("The Legend of Miss Baltimore Crabs").Dejected, Tracy arrives back at school and is promptly given detention for cutting class. Her spirits lift, however, when she discovers that the detention room is where many of the school's black students congregate and dance to R&B music. She befriends Seaweed J. Stubbs (Elijah Kelly), the group's best dancer, whom she recognizes as a performer on the monthly Negro Day, and learns some of his dance moves. Link Larkin happens by the classroom door and sees Tracy's dance skills. Impressed, he enters the room and informs her that Corny Collins is hosting a hop, and that she is easily talented enough for Corny to select as a new Council member. As the school bell rings and the kids disperse, Link is accidentally jostled into Tracy, causing Tracy to have a series of euphoric daydreams about her interaction with him ("I Can Hear the Bells").Teenagers, both black and white, arrive at Corny Collins' public dance, though the dance floor is divided by a rope for segregation. Link is performing a high-energy song ("Ladies' Choice"), and Tracy spots Seaweed among the black dancers. He tells her to borrow some of the moves he taught her, and impress Corny Collins. Tracy quickly catches the attention of Corny (and Link) with her dancing, and, to the horror of Velma Von Tussle, is chosen as the new Council member for The Corny Collins Show. Tracy's parents, as well as Penny and Seaweed, are delighted.Negro Day arrives, hosted by Seaweed's mother, televison DJ Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah). The biased station views, as well as the surprise of Tracy's admission to the Council, are echoed in a song written by the black dancers who are then chastised by Velma for performing it after the white dancers performed a cover version ("The New Girl in Town").Tracy becomes a local celebrity and one of the most popular dancers on the show, despite Velma and Amber's disgust. Mr. Spritzer (Paul Dooley), the CEO of Ultra-Clutch hairspray, first dislikes Tracy and calls her a "chubby communist" after she announces on-air that, if she could, she would make every day Negro Day. Spritzer soon changes his mind when Tracy causes a huge boost in ratings and sales. Wilbur begins selling Tracy-themed merchandise in his joke shop, the Hardy-Har Hut, and Edna finally realizes that Tracy's weight did not prevent her from reaching her goal.Tracy soon receives an offer from Mr. Pinky (Jerry Stiller), the owner of a local plus-size dress shop, to be their official spokesgirl. Tracy is excited by all the sudden attention, but Edna suggests they should find an agent to take charge of Tracy's affairs. After much coercing, Tracy convinces Edna to be her agent, which at first terrified Edna because it would require her to be seen outside their house. Edna finally agrees to accompany her daughter to meet Mr. Pinky and go over a contract. Tracy assures her mother that times are changing, and that people who look different are finally beginning to be accepted ("Welcome to the Sixties").After both Tracy and Edna receive makeovers at Mr. Pinky's shop, they stop at a diner to celebrate, with Edna feeling more confident than she had been in years. Amber and Velma enter the diner, and Tracy is forced to introduce them to her mother. Velma hurts Edna with a thinly-veiled insult about her new dress, reducing Edna to tears, but Tracy explains after the Von Tussles leave that Velma's motive for breaking them down is the threat that Tracy now presents to Amber winning the annual Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant the following month.At school, Tracy is more popular than ever before, and students deliberately land themselves with detention slips just to see her after school. Link also becomes disenchanted with Amber's cruel pranks and gossip, and begins growing closer to Tracy. Tracy introduces Penny to Seaweed, and there is an instant attraction. Seaweed invites Tracy, Penny, and Link to a platter party at his mother's record store after school, and introduces them to his younger sister, Little Inez (Taylor Parks). Seaweed leads the black teenagers in expressing their individuality and spirit in the face of social prejudice ("Run and Tell That").A lively party is underway at Motormouth Maybelle's record shop, with all of the Negro Day dancers in attendance ("Big, Blonde, and Beautiful"). Penny, Link, and Tracy are at first nervous, but soon enjoy themselves. Tracy and Link express similar views on the integration of The Corny Collins Show, and Link hints that he has chosen Tracy over Amber at last.At the Von Tussle's opulent home, Amber sobs to her mother about losing Link to Tracy. Velma promises to make it all better, as she is in control of Link's singing career. In the meantime, Amber makes an anonymous call to Edna, ousting Tracy's current whereabouts, which causes Edna to rush over to Maybelle's shop and attempt to take Tracy home at once. Maybelle invites Edna to stay, enticing her with the enormous table of food, and Edna gives in. After asking Maybelle what the party is being held for, Maybelle sadly explains to Edna and all in attendance that Velma Von Tussle had officially cancelled Negro Day on The Corny Collins Show. Tracy, Penny, Link, Seaweed, and the dancers are outraged, and Tracy suggests that they stage a protest march on the WYZT studio. Maybelle wholeheartedly agrees, as do the dancers, but Link explains to Tracy that he is scheduled to sing in front of talent scouts at the upcoming Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant, and that participating in the march might damage his budding career. He apologizes with sincerity, but Tracy is terribly hurt.With Edna and Tracy not yet home, Velma dons her sexiest dress and introduces herself to Wilbur Turnblad at the Hardy-Har Hut. Though her intention is to seduce Wilbur and be caught by Edna, likely leading to Tracy leaving the show, Wilbur only cares about peddling his precious joke items and remains impervious to Velma's advances. Edna and Tracy arrive home, and Tracy sadly goes to bed. Edna, invigorated by the food from Maybelle's party, spruces herself up and goes down to the joke shop in search of her husband ("Big, Blonde, and Beautiful Reprise"). Edna arrives to see Velma forcing Wilbur into a compromising position, and Edna storms out in fury. Back at their house. after changing the locks and sobbing for hours, Edna forbids Tracy from ever appearing on The Corny Collins Show again.That night, Tracy visits her father, who is sleeping in the joke shop on a bed of whoopie cushions. He assures her that nothing happened between him and Velma, and that his only love is Edna. Tracy explains her fears about the future (though she makes no mention of the protest march), and Wilbur once again comforts her and encourages her to pursue what she knows is right.Tracy returns to bed, and Wilbur reconciles with his wife ("You're Timeless to Me"). The following morning, Edna attempts to wake Tracy to tell her the argument is over, but find she has escaped to join the protest. Fearing for Tracy's safety, Edna sets out after her.Tracy meets up with the protesters, who disperse picket signs among themselves and set off down the street, led by Motormouth Maybelle ("I Know Where I've Been"). Edna finally catches up and tries to talk Tracy into coming home, but Tracy refuses. They soon reach a police roadblock and are curtly instructed by a policeman to cease their protest. Tracy is angered by his rude treatment of Maybelle, and taps the officer with her picket sign when his back is turned. The officer immediately accuses Tracy of assault, and chaos ensues as he orders his men to arrest all the protesters. Tracy flees to Penny's house, and Penny secretly hides her in their basement fallout shelter until Prudy discovers them and calls the police on Tracy. Tracy is locked in the basement room while Penny is bound with a jump rope in her bedroom by her mother as punishment for harboring a fugitive. Soon afterwards, Seaweed climbs into Penny's room, frees her from her binds, and confesses his love. They break Tracy out of the basement window and escape by car. Link, feeling guilty for not supporting Tracy, visits the Turnblads, who are frantic with worry about Tracy's whereabouts. As he examines Tracy's bedroom, Link realizes his true feelings for her ("Without Love"). Once together again, the teenagers (along with Edna and Wilbur) concoct a plan to crash the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant the next day.Velma, knowing of Tracy's involvement with the protest, stations police around the studio the next day as the pageant begins. The security is shown pictures of Tracy and given explicit orders to prevent her from entering the building. The teenagers put their plan into action, infiltrating the studio and executing an elaborate trick to smuggle Tracy inside without the police realizing. Tracy arrives onstage just in time for the dance competition, and is joined by Link, who chooses Little Inez as his partner, no longer caring about the talent scouts in the audience, but rather about bringing The Corny Collins Show a step closer to integration ("You Can't Stop the Beat"). The phone-in votes increase dramatically after Inez's performance, and Inez is crowned Miss Teenage Hairspray, awarding her the position of lead dancer on the show, and officially integrating it at last.Velma is furious, and is caught on camera admitting to her daughter that she rigged the pageant so Amber would be sure to win. She is immediately fired by Mr. Spritzer. As the celebratory finale dance reaches its pinnacle, Wilbur encourages Edna to take the stage herself, which she does with great enthusiasm. Penny and Seaweed kiss passionately, causing Penny's mother to have a fit of horror as she watches the pageant from home. Tracy and Link finally have their first kiss, as a better future begins to unfold around them.

Tags: comedy, entertaining

Review:
It was very well written and the cast proved that even more.If you want to have a fun time at the movies, I really recommend Hairspray.
Obviously a big-budget, flashy musical remake of a John Waters film is never going to be as subversive or as comically edgy as its predecessors, but one of the good things about HAIRSPRAY is that it never intends to be.
In a welcome change from the summer drudgery of explosions and CGI, this film is a pure feel-good crowd pleaser where excitement and energy rise above all.Everyone in the cast gives able performances; even Travolta who, in drag and a fat suit, seems at first off-putting, beginning a one-joke "hey I'm a man in a dress!" performance, quickly grows into his own as Edna does, becoming the most crowd-pleasing character by the film's end.
It's a pleasure to see a former GREASE-r returning to what made him famous, but Travolta proves surprisingly agile in the comedy department, especially during his song and dance numbers.The real enjoyment here, however, and the truly great performances are given by the younger members of the cast.
Kelly displays simply astounding singing and dancing skills, while Blonsky easily carries the entire film of her shoulders, becoming the heart and soul of the movie with one hip thrust.HAIRSPRAY has nothing much to offer besides two hours of entertainment and escapism, but it offers it in spades.
'Hairspray' viciously lampoons bigots and reserves specific devastation for Ultra-conservative religious zealots, figures of authority and WASPs. The satire is white hot (Alison Janney steals every scene she is in), the music catchy, the movie's spirit is irreverent.I had no problems with the cast and their performances.
Christopher Walken and Travolta have a song and dance number duet that rates among the best moments of the film and isn't to be missed.
Keep a sharp eye out for the hilarious John Waters cameo during the opening number.Of recent major movie musicals, this is easily better than 'The Producers,' (better comedy and music) and last year's 'Dreamgirls' (weaker songs but better pacing and strong beyond the first half).
It could be that I am just dizzied by the dashing good looks of Zac Efron, but the magic that was produced on stage by the original Hairspray cast has transfered flawlessly to the big screen.I couldn't have asked for more.
Queen Latifah was "big, black, and beautiful." Michelle Pfeiffer--perfectly obnoxious...the list goes on.The candy colored costumes and thrilling choreography were so enjoyable, and even the more serious parts of the film (though there are very few!) were touching and sincere.The only thing I wished had been included was the song "Mama I'm a Big Girl Now." While it would have been a great addition, other big song and dance numbers carried the film along just fine.I caught myself smiling like a buffoon more than once.
My family and I saw the movie version of the Broadway musical adaptation of John Waters' 1988 comedy HAIRSPRAY on its opening weekend.
:-) My little girl loves music and dancing, but she still tends to like animated films better than live-action films, so when she got into HAIRSPRAY from the start, dancing joyfully in her seat to the Phil Spector-style opening number, "Good Morning, Baltimore," I knew this movie was truly something special.
HAIRSPRAY is the kind of movie musical that GREASE should have been back in the 1970s (yes, it was a huge box-office hit, but I always thought it had a cold, calculating air to it, plus it was so obvious that the teenage characters were being played by stars pushing 30), making it all the more appropriate that John Travolta should carry on the Divine tradition of a man playing mama Edna Turnblad in drag, without *being* a drag.
Travolta is great fun to watch, a delightful surprise with his sensitive performance (even if his Baltimore accent is a little off  but maybe that's just because Baltimore is played by Toronto :-)) as insecure caterpillar-turned-butterfly Edna; this is no cheap, brassy drag-queen turn.
Adorable newcomer Nikki Blonsky lights up the screen in all her scenes as Tracy Turnblad, the perky dynamo who won't let her plus-size body or the sneers of Amber Von Tussle (Brittany Snow) and the other so-called cool kids keep her from dancing her way onto Baltimore's American BANDSTAND manque, THE CORNY COLLINS SHOW.
Tracy and her shy bud Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) become socially aware as they befriend the black kids from the "wrong" side of town, fighting against bigoted station manager and stage mother Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer, having a blast slinking around making trouble) to integrate the show instead of relegating their new friends to the program's monthly "Negro Day." The plot's serious aspects, with its foreshadowing of the era's more sobering issues, are woven deftly into the movie's high spirits.
"Hairspray: The Musical" is the definition of a feel good movie.The storyline has been tweeked a bit from the original film.
Velma's goal is to ensure that her daughter, Amber stays Miss Hairspray in the face of the rising success of Tracy Turnblad (played wonderfully by Nikki Blonsky).The musical numbers are fantastic, and while there's less of an emphasis on the dancing which was a big part of the original film, it doesn't detract from the wonder of the musical sequences.Other differences is the take on the individual characters.
the only thing i wish was kept was mama i'm a big girl now, you only hear it in the credits......but i love the new songs (especially Zac's "Ladies Choice"!!) and the entire cast did a really good job!!!
Zac as link was perfect...although it was a little awkward seeing him kiss Nikki, who by the way could not have done a better job as Tracy, i wasn't sure when i heard that they were having this well know cast with a complete nobody as the lead, but she definitely earned it!!
Also.....John Travolta as Edna is super funny, but when he sings i couldn't help but think..."i didn't know Dannny Zuko was in the movie." but he pulled it off!!.
this is what the recent musicals should have been.in a time of CGI effects and mind boggling plots, it's a relief that once in a while, a movie comes that you would just simply enjoy and makes you want to scream for joy!
I love the original film, and I enjoyed the songs from the Broadway musical, but had real qualms about what was done to the plot.
I remember that time very well, and am most eager to leave it behind me a second time.I hope to return with a more thoughtful and thorough review, but for now I will offer one bold prediction: John Travolta will be the surprise winner of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for his remarkably sweet, funny and straightforward portrayal of Edna!.
I was a fan of the original John Waters movie and I was dubious when I heard they were making it into a Broadway musical.
We had heard the Broadway CD, but had never seen the original Hairspray (Devine) or the Broadway musical, so we didn't know what to expect.This movie overwhelmingly surprised us.
From the catchy opening number ('Good Morning Baltimore') to the sensational finale ('You Can't Stop the Beat', my fav) the film just had a wide-eye innocence not seen in movies for a looooong time.And all the performances were fantastic.
As for the rest: James Marsden turns in his best performance ever as Corny Collins, Amanda Bynes is lovable and funny as Tracy's BFF Penny, Elijah Kelly was ridiculous as Seaweed Tubbs, and I have to admit even Zac Efron was really good here (FYI, I hate 'High School Musical').Also while I'm not a huge fan of musicals, this is the first one that had me toe-tapping.
As a long-time fan of the ORIGINAL John Waters film, I had no desire to give any respect to the stage-to-film remake, especially starring Travolta and Pfeiffer (homage to Grease 1 and 2 maybe?) Relenting to my mother's wishes (a huge Travolta fan), I went to see it today at its first showing (for the $5 price).
For the most part, all of the musical performances were GREAT (couldn't they have done more production on Michelle's voice?) and the dancing let me know just how fantastic it would be to see this on the stage.
(Sadly, three numbers were trimmed for time.) An excellent cast of young talent and old vets, notably Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken (who knew he was such a good dancer?) and Allison Janney.
If there was anything anywhere that had an edge, Dixon blunted it and producer-director-choreographer Adam Shankman, a mediocre talent if ever there was one, did the rest.The absolute best thing that can be said about the 2007 HAIRSPRAY is that has a fairly consistent energy level, largely thanks to Nikki Blonsky as the teenage Tracy Turblad.
All the cast have been perfectly chosen, from big stars like John Travolta and Michelle Pfeiffer to teenage sensations of Zac Efron and Elijah Kelley, and what a smart choice of picking Nikki Blonsky.
I love the John Waters original, and have seen the stage musical five times.
I have scrutinized this movie for imperfections, and if they are there, they've gotten past me.Highlights include: Every single cast member; excellent use of the Dynamites; choreography faithful to the stage version; cutting between Latifah and Pfeiffer in "Big, Blonde & Beautiful"; new song "New Girl in Town"; and an ending that's different from the stage version.
Unlike many other movie musicals, whose song and dance numbers more often than not seem stiff and forced, Hairspray's crackle with kinetic vitality and genuine life.
But as well as visually, the film also thrives on interpreting some of the most valid social issues of the decade, including racism, and other such prejudices against the social norm in a particularly cheerful and uplifting way, making Hairspray one of the most morally sound musicals to grace the screen in quite some time.
One has to give John Travolta credit for playing his part straight, instead of coasting by on the shock humour generated by seeing the iconic star stuffed into a fat suit and drag, and he succeeds in instilling Edna with a surprisingly touching streak - it's just a shame, given his history, that his singing and dancing are disappointingly not up to par with the rest of the cast.
Genre veteran Christopher Walken proves his effortless talent is not dampened by age, dancing and singing better than most half his age, and carrying the film's most touching scene (with his character professing his love to his wife, Travolta) with ease.
If you think that "Grease" is the greatest movie of all time (my eldest Sister does), or you think that what we really need are more films like "Dirty Dancing" (yes, same Sister), or you think that "High School Musical" is the best movie to come along in the past couple of years (no, that was my Niece talking that time) then you are really going to love "Hairspray".
I guess some Travolta haters just can't get over it.The movie was so well crafted that the emergence of characters like Amanda Bynes' and Queen Latifa's make you love them.
The film stands on its own on all levels, but if you like any of the stars like Michelle Pfiefer, Christopher Walken, John Travolta, Queen Latifa, Amanda Bynes, etc., you'll love this film.
Using John Travolta's Edna Turnblad for This scene was the only disappointing departure from the original plot for me.Nikki Blonsky as Traci Turnblad may be a Newby, but her performance kept up with a Terrific all-star cast, like Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Jerry Stiller and others listed above.I smiled from the start of the first number, and I was in a Late Afternoon showing PACKED with Teenagers - who Cheered and applauded at all the right times - like they UNDERSTOOD what it was like to Live through this time of life!.
Definitely not a movie for anyone who doesn't like musicals or sappy romance but a great time for those who do!Now the challenge is to see it and see if you can keep your feet from moving during the songs .
John Travolta pulls of his role as Edna with great easy and nothing is more priceless than watching him dance around in a romantic duet with the amazing Chritopher Walken.
Musical remake of John Waters' cult-comedy from 1988, adapted from the Broadway triumph and full of toe-tapping songs--each one a 'showstopper' that hopes to obliterate the number that came before--has a "short and stout" white high schooler in 1960s Baltimore becoming a teen-sensation on the TV dance-program "The Corny Collins Show", which is run by bigots afraid of integrating white and black dancers.
Leslie Dixon's script retains much of Waters' original elements--which is a good thing--but she doesn't allow the characters to take shape, and teen rabble-rouser Tracy Turnblad (well-played by newcomer Nikki Blonsky) hardly gets to make her mark on the tube before leading a protest march on Baltimore against segregation.
Comparing the two movie versions is pretty much useless (Waters' film wasn't a musical after all, and it had a far slimmer budget), but beefing up the (supporting) characters of Velma Von Tussle and Motormouth Maybelle was pointless (except to showcase Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah, respectively, in these roles).
The cast was perfect such great stars in this movie from Travolta all the way to the debut of Nikki Blonsky who took the lead role although she is a completely unknown actress.
And what is the purpose of taking great actors like John Travolta, Christoper Walken, Michelle Pfeifer and wasting their time making a movie like this.
Hairspray features an all-star cast, with newcomer Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron, James Marsden, Brittany Snow, Christopher Walken, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, and Elijah Kelley.In 1962, teenager Tracy Turnblad and her friend Penny Pingleton are rightly obsessed with The Corny Collins Show.
After one of the members takes a leave of absence, Tracy goes to try out and finds herself on a wonderful adventure, which includes falling hopelessly in love with fellow teenager Link Larkin and making integration happen.With the opening scene, the magical musical number 'Good Morning Baltimore', the film is off to a great start.
For someone like myself, that's pretty exciting.The story of "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad has been told three different times: As a campy 80's movie, then on the Broadway stage, and now in this fantastic new screen version.
It's a fun, feel-good, optimistic film, with wonderful songs and it leaves you feeling hopeful for the chances of all those of us who are 'different' from the norms appointed by societyIf you like musicals and need a bit of cheering up, go and see it on the big screen while you can.
With the help of Tracy's friends, they prove that anyone can be a star and shine.Hairspray is without a doubt one of the best films of the summer, I highly recommend this movie to anyone, even if you're not into musicals, this is just such an uplifting movie.
I loved the John Waters cameo in the beginning, the director of the original movie, Hairspray.
First, I love musicals, and I enjoy John Water's more "mainstream" movies (Hairspray, Pecker, Cry Baby).
He gave his own performance and did not try to impersonate Divine or Harvey, he seemed much more like a real women than a man in drag and the chemistry between Travolta and Chris Walken was great, you really believed they were man and wife, their musical number is a highlight of the movie.
The acting was great, Travolta wasn't half as annoying as the trailers make him out to be, you really believe that Christopher Walken and him are in love, Amanda Bynes was sweet but under used, Zac Efron (the main reason my cinema was full) ditched his teeny bopper style and moved on to great things, Michell Pfeiffer was brilliant, her voice was excellent and she was incredibly believable, James Marsden as always (even when wearing a visor) brings charm to his performance though he needed much more screen time, Queen Latifah belting out "I Know Where I've Been" brought a tear to my eye and possibly the best casting decision in the movie (and one of the most beautiful girls I have ever seen, with ms Bynes being up there too) is Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Edna Turnblad, she is Rikki Lake, she is Marissa Janet Winokour, she is fantastic.
This more modern film adaptation of the classic musical hairspray is a very family-friendly fun and colorful movie.
The cast is all great, including Michelle Pfeiffer Queen Latifah, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron, Brittany Snow, and John Travolta.
John Waters' 1988 original "Hairspray" was a brilliant candy-coloured movie about a fatso teenager becoming a dancing star in Baltimore and battling racial segregation on her way.
While High School Musical gets bogged down in its message, Hairspray deals with the message sensitively and manages to create an incredibly fun movie at the same time.The casting is brilliant.
warm and fun, lots of good characters, great dancing and music, etc.
I went to see Hairspray with my mother and two nephew's ages 11 and 12.The kids knew nothing about the film and where very unsure of the film title thinking it would be boring as they normally like watching action movies.The only musicals i really enjoyed before are grease and little shop of horrors.But I was pleasantly surprised by Hairspray it was a wonderful film.The family really enjoyed it and throughout the film were smiling and laughing at some points of the film when john Travolta was dancing we and most of the audience where in hysterics This is a very funny film and put together very well I will be watching it again when it comes out on DVD.Great acting by the whole cast.John Travolta had me in stitches of laughter..
Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) would love to be part of the show, whereas her mother Edna (John Travolta) doesn't agree.