Hairspray (2007)
John Waters is a national treasure, yet in his long and idiosyncratic film career, he’s rarely been able to construct a narrative that sustains itself for more than an hour or so. “Hairspray,” his valentine to big hair and racial harmony through music, is no exception. But it’s got so much heart that it has proven a durable entertainment. Improbably, it shines in all three incarnations: the gentle but still rough-edged Waters movie, the buoyant Broadway musical and, now, a crowd-pleasing, star-studded movie musical. Instead of just repurposing the stage show, veteran screenwriter Leslie Dixon gives equal weight to the original and adds Waters-esque touches of her own, like pregnant women smoking and drinking. It’s 1962, after all. “Hairspray” provokes laughs from cringe-inducingly backward behavior, including racial prejudice. Ultimately, it’s an ode to progress, embodied by the showstopping tune “You Can’t Stop the Beat.” And thanks to the enthusiasm of the actors and the deliriously catchy songs, it’s a hoot. John Travolta, stepping into the triple-wide shoes of Divine and Harvey Fierstein, makes housewife Edna Turnblad his own by adopting a broad Baltimore accent. Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and Queen Latifah attack their roles with over-the-top zeal. The kids aren’t bad either, although Zac Efron and Nikki Blonsky are more comfortable singing and dancing than delivering dialogue. Director and choreographer Adam Shankman is no Gene Kelly, but his “Hairspray” has the energy of a full aerosol can.
LISTEN: Hairspray
And here’s my WTMD review.
LISTEN: Hairspray-WTMD