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All Movie Info
Starring:
John Travolta, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Brittany Snow, James Marsden, Allison Janney, Jerry Stiller, Elijah Kelley, Sarah Francis, Nadine Ellis, Nikki Blonsky, Nikki Blonsky, Taylor Parks, Jesse Weafer, Tanee McCall, Hayley Podschun, Brooke Engen, Tiffany Engen, J.P. Ferreri, Cassie Silva, Shane Simpson, Tabitha Lupien
Directed By:
Adam Shankman
Written By:
Leslie Dixon
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Hairspray (2007)
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Movie Review by Jarrod
July 21st, 2007
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'Hairspray' is a wonderfully fun and sweet movie, the kind of boisterous, energetic musical that Hollywood has neglected for several decades, though musicals may be approaching a renaissance, with Rent and Dreamgirls both achieving box office success and critical accolades, the latter especially, garnering multiple Oscar nominations, and Jennifer Hudson even winning Best Supporting Actress. Hudson, a former American Idol finalist, held her own against Beyonce and Eddie Murphy, and used her powerful voice to great effect, and transformed into a film star practically overnight with her stupendous debut. But, that may be less remarkable than what Nikki Blonsky does in this movie, where she has the lead role and knocks it out of the park, doing everything just right, an incredible singer and dancer, with a beaming personality, you cannot help but love this girl.
She plays Tracy, a plump high schooler who dreams of getting on a dance show, hosted by the appropriately named Dick Clark wannabe Corny Collins (Marsden). She goes for an audition and secures a slot, much to the sneering amazement of the bigoted producer Velma Von Tussie (Pfeiffer) and her stuck-up daughter Amber (Brittany Snow), who also happens to be the show's head dancer. Tracy's persistence and courage eventually inspire her mother Edna (Travolta) to get out of the house, where she has hidden herself ashamedly for a long time, because of her weight, and it also opens Edna's mind, as she has her own prejudices, as well. Tracy's father Wilbur (Walken) supports her wholeheartedly.
Set in Baltimore in the 1960s, 'Hairspray' does not ignore the political and social issues of that decade. Once Tracy gets on the show, it threatens to embrace racial segregation, and get rid of its Negro Day, devoted to "black" music and dance. By this time, Tracy has befriended a black kid named Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), and his mother, Maybelle (Latifah). Tracy decides to campaign for integration, along with her best friend Peggy (Bynes) and the dashing Link Larkin (Efron). 'Hairspray' is essentially a remake of the 1988 John Waters classic, which made Ricki Lake a star. This version is not as edgy or satirical or flamboyant, but it combines elements from both the Waters original and the smash Broadway production.
The songs are fantastic, and are performed brilliantly, especially by Blonsky and Latifah. There are also a lot of them. It may seem odd to see Travolta in a fat suit playing a woman, but he looks and sounds convincing nonetheless, and proves to be a scene-stealer, often very funny, but never silly, and the relationship Edna has with Tracy is endearing and genuine. You must also keep in mind that the role of Edna has always been played by men in drag; first Divine, and then Harvey Fierstein. Travolta follows in their footsteps quite nicely, though Robin Williams would have also been a wise choice. Pfeiffer and Latifah are terrific, Walken plays it straight, though he is still distinctly Walkenish, and he and Travolta have great chemistry too. Efron, from High School Musical, is bland and uninteresting, like Marsden, handsome and slick with his bouffant hairstyle and snazzy outfits, but offering little in the way of substance. Same goes for Snow. Regardless, this 'Hairspray' is highly enjoyable and entertaining, and Blonsky is a real find.
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