Hairspray Review
by samseescinema (sammeriam AT comcast DOT net)July 20th, 2007
Hairspray
reviewed by Samuel Osborn
Director: Adam Shankman
Screenplay: Leslie Dixon
Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Queen Latifah
MPAA Classification: PG
Infectious and relentless, Adam Shankman's Hairspray is an explosion of pixie dust and pastel frosting. It barrels along on the propulsion of bright smiles and swinging hips, inviting unbelievable fun for those willing to keep up with its cha-cha-cha pace and offering tolerability for those who are otherwise skeptical. Count me as one of the skeptical. I'm only slowly growing warmer to the musical theatre scene, and growing ever more frosty towards musicals adapted and re- adapted for film. But Hairspray's optimism is contagious and its cast as loveable as a pink teddy bear won at the carnival. Bring a smile to this one. It's required.
Newcomer Nikki Blonsky fills the adorably plus-sized lead, Tracy Turnblood, bellowing her love for hometown Baltimore and the after- school television special, "The Corny Collins Show." She's an honorable outcast in high school, friends only with the pig-tailed Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) and swooning over the popular dance king Link Larkon (Zak Efron). More than anything she longs for a dancing role as one of the class-cutting teenagers under Corny (James Marsden). Luckily a surprise position opens up and Tracy, without the permission of her doubly plus-sized mother Edna (John Travolta), attends the audition. The icy station manager Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeifer), however, mocks Tracy's physique, modeling her exemplary daughter, Amber Von Tussle (Brittany Snow), as the superior beauty. So Tracy turns to the black kids of her high school for help. She admires their syrupy-sweet rhythm and blues, tracing their steps and impressing Corny himself to earn her a spot on the show. Tracy's triumphant introduction and blue-ribbon smile win her a fanbase to rival that of the phenom Amber. And paired with the magnetism of Link away from Amber and into the wanting arms of Tracy, the competition for the upcoming beauty pageant is fierce.
Before seeing the film I asked a friend who had seen a recent stage version of the show what I should expect. She said that an apt story outline for Hairspray would read: "Happy happy happy happy happy, half- baked racial strife, happy, happy, happy, happy." For better or worse, she was right. There's a message of peace and racial integration in Hairspray, but it's between the cracks of smiles and the space between your dance partner. It's obligatory but proud, doused in good music to lessen the hurt of what might have been an actual emotion of sadness. This is fine, I suppose, since the film's big-huge heart doesn't have the time to slow down, beating at a pace to sprint to.
The music is an obvious draw. Choreographed by Director Adam Shankman, the singing and dancing numbers are held together by a surprising, impressive cast. John Travolta trades in the tight denim and leather jackets of his Grease and Saturday Night Fever days to don the rolls of cellulite in putting out his best performance in years as Tracy's mother Edna. There are few moments sweeter than watching Christopher Walken as Tracy's father attempt to win back his heartbroken John Travolta. At one point, in a flurry of passion, Walken and Travolta slip into sombreros and a night dress to mambo beneath the Baltimore skyline. Michelle Pfeifer throws a deadly imitation of Cruella DeVille as Velma Von Tussle and Brittany Snow scowls beautifully as her daughter Amber, both wielding spears of veritable hatred towards Nikki Blonsky as Tracy. Nikki is a force of new pizzazz for the film. And whether or not this elite turn as Tracy Turnblood translates to other roles, she's put up something memorable here.
Hairspray will delight those who are trained in the art of smiling. Those who laugh large and smile easily will find a heaven in their multiplex. No Negative Nancies allowed. It's a full blast of hairspray to the heart. Just watch out. Because if you can't keep up, you'll get hairspray in your eyes.
Samuel Osborn
Originally posted in the rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup. Copyright belongs to original author unless otherwise stated. We take no responsibilities nor do we endorse the contents of this review.
