This 2007 film follows the commercial success of the Broadway musical and is a remake of the 1988 cult classic of the same name. The original, brought to us by the incomparable godfather of bad taste- John Waters, starred Rikki Lake as full figured teenager Tracy Turnblad. We see Tracy win a spot on a TV dance show, and teach those around her a few important lessons about diversity and acceptance.

This new incarnation is a musical, whereas the original film was not, and incorporates elements of both the film and the Broadway show. Tracy Turnblad is played by Nikki Blonsky, who does very well as the irrepressible, dance crazy protagonist. Set in the early 60s and combining social justice and a teenage dancing contest, this satire stands up for fairness and equality while embracing materialism and superficiality.

Made with Water’s blessing, (and you can see his cameo as the flasher in the first scene) Hairspray has an all star cast including Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah and of course, John Travolta as Edna Turnblad. In the original, transvestite performer Divine was cast in this role, but Travolta’s gender bending turn in this version didn’t work quite so well. That said, it is in the spirit of Water’s original to be slightly bizarre and off-putting, and he did do well to dance in a fat-suit. After all, no one can really compare to Divine.

Comparisons aside, Hairspray is a lot of fun, it will definitely have you tapping your feet. There is plenty of dancing, and a song on average about every thirty seconds, which was a few too many for me - the bursting into song thing starts to wear a little thin, when a character cant say more than a few lines and the intro music for the next song starts to play..

Anyway, it was very entertaining, which is all I think it was aiming for – an over the top, upbeat, all singing, all dancing dose of glitter and polyester - a chance to see a few big names ham it up and twist and turn, not to mention see Travolta back on the dance-floor, this time in drag.

See it, and check out the original too. 3/5

Posted January 24th, 2008 under Movie Reviews.
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