hairspray review

by WHIPLASH

Sept 27, 2007 Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden and Queen Latifah Genre: Musical Comedy Review: TRACY Turnblad (Blonsky) is a fat teenager who is a great dancer. The problem with that of course, is that nobody wants to see fat people dance. Least of all on television. But Tracy has a dream that she just won't let go. Set in Baltimore, 1962, the story of Tracy's coming of age and fight for acceptance is set against the backdrop of the even more interesting issue of the struggle against segregration by the African-American community. While Tracy's moves may not please those with conventional tastes, she has the support of her eccentric parents, played by Walken and Travolta in drag. Her best friend Penny Pingleton (Bynes) is also supportive as are her school's black children, whom she meets when she gets sent to detention. Crucially, Tracy's ambition is also supported by local television stars Corny Collins (Marsden) and Link Larkin (Efron), the cutie whom Tracy is absolutely crazy about. To the accompaniment of some absolutely fantastic Motown-styled songs, slapstick humour and poignant messages about self-confidence and tolerance for those who dare to be different, Hairspray is one of the most entertaining movies you'll watch this year. Not to be missed, as it got even this stuffed shirt excited! Did you know … This is the second version of the Broadway musical to be shot. The 1988 version of Hairspray was a veritable gathering of pop-stars, be they wannabes or has-beens. Imagine the cast included Sonny Bono, Debbie Harry (of Blondie fame), Ric Ocasek (lead singer of The Cars) and the likes of Vitamin C and Pia Zadora, all of whom put singles in the Billboard Top 40! Newcomer Blonsky is absolutely wonderful as Tracy Turnblad, holding her own against a string of industry big names including two of the current generation's hottest stars Efron and Bynes When Walken and Travolta break into dance it's almost inevitable, as the pair are both famed for their silky moves, each having danced in more than 10 movies already. It's also a reunion of sorts for the Pulp Fiction stars. What's on the soundtrack? Some of it is predictable 60s soppy pop, but the heated moments of funky soul will get a corpse shaking. Dig it baby.