Hairspray (2007)
Rambunctious 1960s-set musical following Tracy Turnblad, a big girl with big hair and a big heart. Her dream is to appear on The Corny Collins Show, Baltimore’s hippest TV dance party. While her mother (John Travolta) nags, her father (Christopher Walken) encourages dreaming er... large. Re-make of the 1988 John Waters original.
She wows Corny Collins (James Marsden) at a high school dance, and gets a place on his show, much to the irritation of reigning dance princess Amber Von Tussle and her scheming mother (Michelle Pfeiffer). Meanwhile, at school, students are marching against racial inequality with Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah). After confronting police, Tracy has to hide from an issued arrest warrent. Will Tracy miss the final dance-off against Amber and forfeit the Miss Hairspray title? Or will she sing and dance her way out of trouble again? These are the questions this synopsis leaves you with.
- Director:
- Adam Shankman ('Cheaper by the Dozen 2', 'The Pacifier')
- Writer:
- Leslie Dixon
- Cast:
- John TravoltaNikki BlonskyAmanda BynesChristopher WalkenQueen LatifahMichelle PfeifferJames MarsdenAllison Janney
Reviews & comments
Why bother?
I went with friends, expecting a good movie as some of them had already seen it and raved. I've since heard others doing the same so perhaps I'm the only person in Aotearoa, nay the world, who wonders why anyone bothered putting time and scads of dosh into such a feeble, ridiculous film. When we know how brilliantly some Hollywood makeup artists can...
Just as good as 80s version
I love the 80's version of this film - which rocked Riki Lake to talk show fame and had a cameo from one of my all time heros - Debbie Harry. This Hairspray is just as good. Travolta, of course, delivers a well crafted performance and Queen Latifa prooves again she can actually act. The character of Tracy the exhuberant, optimistic and fat girls can do...
Village Voice
pressThe movie is visually flat: not pasty and garish in the Waters signature style, but merely serviceable and competent in the worst tradition of Hollywood "professionalism"...
New Zealand Herald
pressThe cast is having a blast, and the mood is infectious. If this film doesn't have a smile on your face by the grand finale, I'd hate to think what kind of day you're having...
Newshub
pressHairspray really is one of those sing-along musicals that some will love to hate, and others will love to sing.
Me and musicals have a rather chequered history - I’m still getting hate mail for dissing Dreamgirls.
Hairspray's sweet light and tasty veneer serves up some biting satire, a few catchy tunes and John Travolta in a fat suit.
It’s not really my thing, but it might be yours...
Empire Magazine
pressOffering plenty of body and a lot of lift, Hairspray gels kitsch styling with show-stopping tunes to mould a memorable musical...
Dominion Post
pressThe John Water's cult gets a very 21st century makeover and soundtrack. Great -and still topical-source material yields a great movie. This is at least the best musical since Chicago. Maybe even Grease...
Christchurch Press
pressMost closely aligned to revered off-beat movie-musicals like Rocky Horror and Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray seems destined to be a favourite at slumber parties for decades to come...
BBC
pressIt also embodies the spirit of the film as a joyous celebration of being different. Later scenes depicting the Civil Rights movement may seem inappropriate, but the silliness only mirrors the absurdity of racism - ref. Queen Latifah's cringing endorsement of 'NapAway' hair cream. Spot-on performances all round contribute to a musical that, like Tracy, is just a great big ball of fun...
Village Voice
pressThe movie is visually flat: not pasty and garish in the Waters signature style, but merely serviceable and competent in the worst tradition of Hollywood "professionalism"...
New Zealand Herald
pressThe cast is having a blast, and the mood is infectious. If this film doesn't have a smile on your face by the grand finale, I'd hate to think what kind of day you're having...
Newshub
pressHairspray really is one of those sing-along musicals that some will love to hate, and others will love to sing.
Me and musicals have a rather chequered history - I’m still getting hate mail for dissing Dreamgirls.
Hairspray's sweet light and tasty veneer serves up some biting satire, a few catchy tunes and John Travolta in a fat suit.
It’s not really my thing, but it might be yours...
Empire Magazine
pressOffering plenty of body and a lot of lift, Hairspray gels kitsch styling with show-stopping tunes to mould a memorable musical...
Dominion Post
pressThe John Water's cult gets a very 21st century makeover and soundtrack. Great -and still topical-source material yields a great movie. This is at least the best musical since Chicago. Maybe even Grease...
Christchurch Press
pressMost closely aligned to revered off-beat movie-musicals like Rocky Horror and Little Shop of Horrors, Hairspray seems destined to be a favourite at slumber parties for decades to come...
BBC
pressIt also embodies the spirit of the film as a joyous celebration of being different. Later scenes depicting the Civil Rights movement may seem inappropriate, but the silliness only mirrors the absurdity of racism - ref. Queen Latifah's cringing endorsement of 'NapAway' hair cream. Spot-on performances all round contribute to a musical that, like Tracy, is just a great big ball of fun...
Why bother?
I went with friends, expecting a good movie as some of them had already seen it and raved. I've since heard others doing the same so perhaps I'm the only person in Aotearoa, nay the world, who wonders why anyone bothered putting time and scads of dosh into such a feeble, ridiculous film. When we know how brilliantly some Hollywood makeup artists can...
Just as good as 80s version
I love the 80's version of this film - which rocked Riki Lake to talk show fame and had a cameo from one of my all time heros - Debbie Harry. This Hairspray is just as good. Travolta, of course, delivers a well crafted performance and Queen Latifa prooves again she can actually act. The character of Tracy the exhuberant, optimistic and fat girls can do...
Share