Viewed in
2007 (x2)
Premise
Movie adaptation of the musical based on John Water's cult classic movie.
Who should watch
Fans of 'Hairspray'. Those who want something cheerful.
Thoughts
It started with Nikki Blonsky's bright, infectious charm. From the beginning to the end, I had a smile on my face non-stop.
This was a great musical film. It was full of energy, music and dancing. The dark themes of race was idealistic, but it fit the tone of the film. I also liked the subtle use of special effects. Unlike some recent musical movies, the filmmaker did not use his style to takeover the spotlight over the performances. Guess it helps when the director was the choreographer.
There might not be a weirder onscreen couple than John Travolta and Christopher Walken. Travolta was hilarious and adorable as the fat mother. Michelle Pfeiffer was a delicious, bigoted villain. All the characters were just plain likeable. Fans of the original got a kick out of cameos by Ricki Lake, Jerry Stiller, and John Waters as the flasher. In fact, there were many references to the original that added a nice touch.
Comparing the two 'Hairspray' films, both were very funny in their own way. The 1988 version had a darker, twisted sense of humor, while the 2007 version had an infectious good feeling. Personally I liked the newer one better because it had great musical numbers and a cast I could relate to more.
What I would change
Nothing.
