"Hairspray" Review

"Hairspray"
2007
**** out of ****
Director: Adam Shankman
Cast: Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes, Zac Efron, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, Elijah Kelley


I am happy. I just finished watching "Hairspray" on DVD, and found it to be even better than when I saw it in theatres back in July. I figured I might as well praise a good film for my very first review here on Film Arcade. However, don't get used to it. I rarely give a film the 4-star treatment, and hardly ever am in a good mood when writing about a film. "Hairspray", however, gave me something to smile about for a change. After viewing films like "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" and "Bee Movie", it takes films like "Hairspray" to bring you back.

As most of you know (unless you live in a hole somewhere), last Tuesday was Christmas. Now don't get me wrong, I like Christmas. I really do. I just sometimes don't enjoy all of the things that come with Christmas. For example: family. I had to deal with my crazy family all week long. Throughout the course of this week, the happy and joyful holiday we all know and love as Christmas made me realize something: I hate my family. They are a bunch of weirdos. You have your hicks, your racists, your drunks, your ex-convicts, your mental patients, your loud-mouths, and last but not least, the ignorant aunt that shows up, eats your food, drinks your beer, gets drunk and cheats at Jeopardy, stays until one in the morning, and then doesn't even get you one friggin' Christmas present. Yes. I had to deal with this all week long.

So, after putting up with my relatives all week, watching "Hairspray" was a nice little relief. I had a smile on my face for the first time since I cursed out my Aunt on Wednesday for cheating at Jeopardy. I actually had a feeling that I was enjoying Christmas break, just a little bit.
A remake of the 1988 John Waters film, "Hairspray" opens up with Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), an overweight teenage girl trying to fit in, waking up and getting ready for school. We see that the film is set in 1962 as she opens a newspaper and turns on the TV to reveal a black-and-white broadcast of "Good Morning, Baltimore". She runs outside, and breaks out in the first song of this Hollywood-turned Broadway musical, "Good Morning, Baltimore."

Now unlike most overweight girls, instead of crying, complaining, going anorexic, or cutting themselves because they are overweight, Tracy uses it as her advantage. She doesn't give a rat's behind about what anyone else thinks, and she gets respected for it. She considers herself a "hip gal", with her groovy hair do and funky dance skills. She has an optimistic view on the day ahead and on life itself. She concludes at the end of her first number that today is going to be a great day.

Tracy and her best friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) are in lovewith the hip and happenin', toe-tappin', finger-snappin', lip-flappin', funky groovy dance show on television called the Corny Collins show, which features the nicest looking white kids in town, dancing and singing to a new beat. (A bit similar to "American Bandstand") Only once a month do they feature any black kids, and that is on "Negro Day". When one of the girls on the show gets pregnant and has to leave, there is an opening, and the station holds open auditions.

Tracy, anxious to be someone, realizing that this is her shot, cuts school and rushes down to the station to audition, after much debate from her mother, Edna (John Travolta pulling a "Mrs. Doubtfire"). The two argued until finally Tracy's dad (Christopher Walken) tells her to go after her dream. Tracy auditions, and station manager Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer) pretty much tells her she is too fat for the show. Disappointed, Tracy leaves and goes to school.

Tracy tries to sneak back into class and gets caught. She is issued a detention slip, and when she enters the detention room, she is surrounded by a bunch of black kids dancing like there is no tomorrow. She joins in with them immediately, and they bop 'till they drop. Here she meets Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), who she's seen before on "Negro Day." They begin dancing together as if there were no color difference at all when Link Larkin, hottie on the Corny Collins show and Tracy's dream man, (Zac Efron) passes by the room, and sees Tracy shaking and shimmying. He tells her to drop by the station tomorrow. He says that if Corny sees her dancing like that, he'd put her on the show. And that's just what he does.

Now that Tracy is on the show, everybody loves her. Well, that is not entirely accurate. Miss Velma Von Tussle and her daughter Amber hate her guts. Why? Tracy is now in the running for Miss Teenage Hairspray, a title that Amber has claimed for the past two years, and she's not about to give it up. Both ambitious women try and sabotage the competition. Amber spreads nasty rumors about Tracy, and Velma goes as far as to trying to seduce Tracy's dad.

Velma shocks everyone when she suddenly cancels Negro day. When Tracy goes along with the black dancers to protest, lots of controversy arises. She taps a police officer on his head with a picket sign to get his attention, and is accused of assaulting a police officer. Tracy runs, and with the police on her tail, tries to hide out at Penny's house. The Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant is the next night, and Velma has the place surrounded by cops. Can Tracy find a way in? Or will the whole contest fall to corruption?

This short two-hour film is packed with conflicts. Tracy, despite her wait and debate from her mother, is trying to break out and be someone. Edna, after being a recluse for many years, must face the 60s with a positive attitude, no matter what her size or social status is. Edna needs to forgive her husband for the incident with Miss Von Tussle. Tracy and Penny want to hang out, and bop to the Corny Collins show. However, Penny's mom won't allow it. Link needs to be true with himself. He is in love with Tracy Turnblad, no matter what her size or anything Amber says. Penny and Seaweed fall in love, despite the colors of their skin and debate from Penny's mother. The black dancers on the Corny Collins show are fighting for integration. And finally, Tracy is trying to win the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant.

This film had so many components to it that made it such a high-quality film. One of the best movies of the summer, one of the best of the year, and possibly one of my all-time favorites, Hairspray combined great actors with talented musicians to create one of the best soundtracks I have ever heard. With songs like "Good Morning, Baltimore" and "You Can't Stop the Beat!” it is hard to walk out of the theatre singing and tapping your foot.

On top of a killer soundtrack, Hairspray was excellently casted. Nikki Blonsky, before hitting the big-screen, was a regular ice-cream girl working at the local "Cold-Stone Creamery." Zac Efron, famous for his role in "High School Musical", and John Travolta, famous for his role in "Grease", also rocked the screen in this summer blockbuster. Other stars sang exceptionally well, and I didn't even know they could sing. For example, Amanda Bynes, Queen Latifah, and Christopher Walken. They all did an amazing job. My MVP, however, has to go to Mr. John Travolta. Any man that isn't afraid to dress as a lady and sing deserves my kudos. Nice one, John! Way to show your feminine side.

One last thing really sparked my interest, and made me enjoy the movie all the more. The dialogue in this film was excellent. It was hilarious, and I will add some quotes below:

Mrs. Pingleton: You are not to watch that show again!
Penny: Without that show I have nothing!
Mrs. Pingleton: Having nothing builds character!

Penny (after kissing Seaweed): I am now a checkerboard chick!

Maybelle: Well, Miss Edna is it? You don't have to rush off.
Edna: Well I sure do. I left my iron on...
Maybelle: Oh, your iron...

Excellent music, exceptional visual, awesome casting, and superb directing made this film an instant hit. In today's age, the remakes are never as good as the originals; however, "Hairspray" broke the chain. It is a rather short film, at 117 minutes. It is a family-themed movie, with a rating of PG-13. This film is good if you need something to do on a rainy Saturday afternoon. If you are a fun-loving person, or just appriciate fine film or music, then "Hairspray" is the film for you. Also, if you need to get over a really bad hangover after a film like "I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry" or "Bee Movie", this will cheer you up.

Hairspray is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD.