Hairspray is a 2007 musical film produced by Zadan/Meron Productions and distributed by New Line Cinema. The film is an adaptation of the Tony Award-winning 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, itself adapted from John Waters' 1988 comedy film. Set in 1962 Baltimore, the film follows a "pleasantly plump" girl named Tracy Turnblad as she simultaneously pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation.

Adapted from both Waters' 1988 script and Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell's book for the stage musical by screenwriter Leslie Dixon, the 2007 version of Hairspray is directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman. Hairspray stars John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney, and introduces newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad. Hairspray features songs from the Broadway musical written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, as well as three Shaiman/Wittman compositions not present in the Broadway version.


• John Travolta’s Fatsuit. My wife was pretty impressed with the prosthetics used in the film to transform John Travolta into the plus-sized shut-in laundress mother of Tracy Turnblad. But… personally? It just didn’t work for me. He does a fair job as the caring mom who is reticent to let her daughter go out into the big, bad world. I couldn’t help but still see Travolta’s long face underneath the tons of rubber and make-up. If I was asked to identify in a line-up…Robin Williams as Mrs. Doubtfire, Martin Lawrence as Big Momma and Eddie Murphy as the Nutty Professor together with John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, I’d definitely be able to recognize Travolta with one-eye closed. In addition to this, I think viewers would agree that we can even see the old Travolta we know and love come alive when Edna dances. Don’t get me wrong, I think Travolta’s performance was spot-on but because the actor simply looks so very wrong in latex and lipstick, it takes away from the performance. I guess John just has too many distinguishable facial features that impair the believable-ness of his fat momma role.


• Almost Perfect Casting. Tracy is the cornerstone to making Hairspray zing. Every actress who has played this role has nailed it in her own way. Ricki Lake gave us a good start as the original; Marissa Jaret Winokur won a Tony playing her on Broadway. Now, we have brilliant newcomer Nikki Blonsky, a former ice cream parlor employee who beat out several hundred girls to win the role. Her happy-go-lucky Tracy quite literally lights up the screen every time she appears, and you find yourself grinning like a fool the whole time she is shimmying and shaking. Let’s hope she isn’t just a one-trick pony. The supporting cast is also very appealing. Michelle Pfeiffer, who once again gets to use those lovely pipes of hers, is perfectly unctuous as Velma Von Tussle, Amber’s scheming mother and the TV station manager. Queen Latifah adds her certain energy as Motormouth Maybelle, the host of Corny Collins’ “Negro Day.” Also good are Amanda Bynes, as Tracy’s lollipop-eating best friend Penny Pingleton, and Elijah Kelley as the groovin’ Seaweed, Penny’s forbidden love. The only one drawback for me is Travolta as the oversized Edna.

• Musical Score. Music producer/composer/co-lyricist Marc Shaiman and co-lyricist Scott Wittman did a terrific job in making the song score for this film. The melodies of the songs used in this musical have very striking recall and I just can’t get them off my mind. As of the moment, I’m still suffering from LSS (Last Song Syndrome) and my iPod has been playing the Hairspray Soundtrack over and over since I downloaded the tunes from my cousin’s multiply site.

• Choreography. Hairspray is the “Grease” for the new millennium, just the kind of bubblegum musical that keeps your toes tappin', except this time John Travolta is wearing a fat suit and nylons. Director Adam Shankman is really a choreographer first before a director, and it shows. He doesn't overdo the cutting on the dance routines but allows us to sit back and savor the dynamics. Fueled by catchy tunes from the Broadway show, plus a few new ones created just for the movie, Adam Shankman orchestrates the big song and dance numbers in such a way to get you moving in your seat every time. He also frames his talent in their more personal, character-driven songs with a steady hand.

• Social Relevance. While we already have laws that protect people from racial discrimination, prejudice is still prevalent in our society. We usually pre-form unfavorable opinions based on irrational feelings, unfounded hatred, fear or mistrust often causing harm or disadvantage to somebody. Being self-righteous and judgmental about other people always leads to condemnation. I like this film because it wittingly takes a stab on these issues and pierces our hearts to try to change the way we view beauty and acceptance. Despite the campiness of the musical, Hairspray remains a story of social outsiders cheerfully bashing their way into the spotlight to fight for their right to be happy.




There is definitely a lot of craft and slyness lurking beneath the circa-1960s goofiness of Hairspray. I like the way the film's hot-topic issues are all presented in the realm of feel-good fantasy, wherein the reality of discrimination and prejudice has been cunningly and comically inserted into the plot. But that's not to say the movie is insincere in its intentions. When Tracy and "Negro Day" host Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah) lead a march promoting "Integration, Not Segregation", it's hard not to get swept up in the emotionalism of the piece.

Dazzling, humorous and wonderfully light, "Hairspray" reminds us that pleasure and enjoyment comes in all colors, shapes and sizes. It's also one of the few "event" movies this year that doesn't outstay its welcome. In any event, forget about Chicago and Dreamgirls - Hairspray is the perfect popcorn movie musical that will get everyone dancing and singing the way “Grease” did a generation ago.

Five Bottlecaps on my book!