Genres

Visitors Review

2012-05-24 18:36:09

Great play becomes a great movie

My wife and I saw Hairspray on Broadway a few years ago and loved it. Then, this holiday season, my daughter requested the DVD of the movie---not because of us, but because shed'd heard good things about the movie. Her sources were right on: The film is just as dynamic and entertaining as the stage production, with great performances all around (John Travolta is terrific as expected) and plenty of energy that translates well to the screen (even a little one!).

abandonthought10 2012-05-24 13:32:06

cute, entertaining and a great movie musical

This was a great movie. I was funny and sweet. I enjoyed it very much.This had to follow up a very good movie musical, Dreamgirls which wasvery well done. This did an outstanding job. It was a fun movie thatyou can't help but enjoy. The songs are catchy, the dances are amazingand the acting is great. I think the biggest surprise was JamesMarsden. I had no idea he could sing and his voice was amazing and hisacting was great. He really blew me away. Amanda Bynes was so cute asPenny and I was sad she didn't sing more. I would have liked to haveseen a little more of her and Seaweeds relationship. The only thing I can find to complain about is the fact that Tracy andLink's relationship felt a little rushed and not 100% believable justbecause it happened so fast. Also I never really stopped thinking thatit was John Travolta as Edna, I just kept seeing him instead of thecharacter. Now I did not see the Broadway show and my friend told me there wassome changes. I know they cut some songs but I didn't feel like themovie needed more songs. This movie was a great add to the collection of movie musicals and Ihope this means there will be much more to come. Probably the mostentertaining movie I've seen all summer and just so much fun. *By the way keep your eye out for John Waters*

george karpouzas 2012-05-21 17:49:59

A musical comedy with a political agenda

This movie is an interesting mixture of a apparently naive plot- theself-fulfillment of a young girl from Baltimore through dance- andpolitical propaganda- that is the promotion of the agenda of colouredmainly but also 'different' people in general. The original musical isa creation of the sixties which was the heyday of the Civil Rightsmovement in the USA. The performance of John Travolta as the mother ofthe aspiring dancer was impressive and comic while it promoted the ideathat one should not make distinctions based on size- that is againstfat people. Michelle Pfeifer was a very impressive scheming andpower-hungry, racist director of a T.V. show dedicated to dance. QueenLatifah had a strong personality as the matriarch of the coloured youthwith artistic temperaments. The producer of the show was also asuccessful representation of the average bigoted American businessmanof that age or at least of his image in popular culture. The music anddance were inspiring.

kooolkyl 2012-05-21 04:44:52

Great!

Well when I went and saw this movie it started out really corny andkind of dumb, but as it went on it got better and it ended up to be oneof the best movies of the summer! The characters were matched up wellwith the actors selected to play them, and the storyline was fairlyclose to the one in the play. it was colorful, funny, and made you wantto get up in dance right in the middle of the theater. However, therewere some details that were left out in the movie that seemed reallyimportant in the play. For example Tracy never goes to jail and getsrescued by Link. But I guess things like that are what make the moviemore unique from the play itself. This is going to do very well

Punktius_Pilate 2012-05-20 04:11:32

Joyous and Cheesy...just how I like 'em

"Hairspray" is a film about overcoming the potential obstacles of raceand size in order to realize your dreams. It is both the cheesiest andmost joyous film I've seen in a very long time. From the openingstrains of "Good Morning Baltimore" to the "You Can't Stop Beat"finale, the film is a hilarious musical romp that teaches tolerance andperseverance. The entire cast, including John Travolta, ChristopherWalken, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes,and Zac Effron are all superb, flaunting their considerable acting andmusical talents. The real surprise here, though, is Nikki Blonsky asthe irrepressibly peppy Tracy Turnblad. She is the core of the film andher wonderful performance makes us stand up and cheer for those who aredifferent. "Hairspray" is a delightful film for those who love happy(almost to the point of giddy) films, musicals, or for those who wantto see a great ensemble cast bringing down the roof.

jamesmccormack 2012-05-19 17:11:51

It's fun to go to the movies again. Just go see it! You will love it.

Hairspray is the best time at the movies in a long time. Throughlyentertaining from start to finish.Movies like "Chicago" and the over-hyped "Dreamgirls" were more likeMTV videos with all the quick cuts and camera movement. Other recentmusical outings like "Rent" and "The Producers" were just horrid andalmost killed off the recent revival of the musical film.Hairspray is a big-hearted musical comedy like they used to make them.The movie is fun, looks great and is packed with wonderful songs.People actually applauded at the end of the film - when is the lasttime that happened? Casting is almost near perfect. I said ALMOST. JohnTravolta fails as Edna who looks like a man in a fat costume...manylines are swallowed and the comedy misfires. This Enda is too JuneClever in tailored house dresses so the big Edna-makeover number"Welcome to the 60's" fails to hit the mark. And where on earth didTravolta get that accent? He sometimes sounds like a Southern Belle,other times like a Minnesota housewife. Golly John, this is Baltimore!Queen Latifa calls in her performance as Motormouth Mabel. There is nocommitment to the part. What we get is the same character she played in"Beauty Shop." Where's the grit? Where's the anger for injustice? Thescene with the protest march is more like a Sunday walk in the park.But, the young cast is fabulous. Nikki Blonsky as Tracy carries thismovie. She is the heart...and the soul. Go see it.

Cherryl Dawson and Leigh Ann Palone 2012-05-15 10:32:36

It's a remake of a musical from the 80's and forgive us the bad pun, but Hairspray still holds up after all these years.

2012-05-15 05:02:27

Painful to watch

This review is from: Hairspray (Full-Screen Edition) (DVD) Fortunately we downloaded this movie to Tivo so we could fast forward to the annoyingly predictable ending. The singing and dancing were fun for about 10 minutes, but this is a truly shallow effort that gets so repetitive you can't bear to watch it anymore. Yuck!!

2012-05-12 10:52:34

Funny, with a great message!

This movie is very funny. It also has great, upbeat music with a great message. This movie says to accept people the way they are no matter how different they are. This is definitely a DVD to buy!

2012-05-11 17:02:52

Hollywood rubbish

I really liked this film for the first 30 minutes or so until it turned preaching and demeaning. I hate it when hollyweird gets all preachy and moralistic and some of the songs I found quite sickening and, to be frank, racist. Whilst I understand that during that time the place was rife with racism, the songs were offensive to anyone of another race than the one's singing. Queen Latifah was so pretentious it made me feel ill to my stomach. Of course, I have not seen the original or the musical so I'm sure the movie was just staying true to those but if I'd know beforehand I wouldn't have bothered with this.John Travolta was pretty pathetic in this, it's so sad to watch his demise over the last few years after Pulp Fiction revised his career, and Amanda Bynes's role was a thankless and embarressing one. Christopher Walken needs to fire his manager cause this eccentric role he always get's stuck with is really boring and not indicative of his enormous talent.I ended up walking out quite disgusted 40 minutes before the end and really didn't care enough about the story or characters to stick around and see how this dreck ended. Save your dollars people. This movie's a stinker.For all you plebs who will vote this "not helpful" you are just whingers, I'm allowed to express my opinion you know and by voting "not helpful" you are really just wasting your finger pressing time.

shannonray11 2012-05-07 12:07:06

Best film to me. (May contain spoilers)

I remember first seeing this movie at a friend's house in 2007 andloving it. I didn't watch it for about 3 years and saw it while I wasgoing through some movies on here. I decided to watch it again. As Iwas watching, I started remembering the night I first watched it. Butthis isn't about me.This movie really tugs on my heart strings and my vocal chords. I lovethe whole story of Tracy. How she is overweight but does not care.Befriending the coloured kids in detention despite the fact that it maynot be or isn't accepted.The songs are so catchy and I can't help but sing and dance. I neversaw the Broadway musical and I really wish I could have. It's so upbeatand fun! Also, Travolta as Edna really made the movie so great! I can't imagineanyone else playing her!9/10 from me. :)

2012-05-07 06:38:56

Edna and Tracy

Any film that features a touching love scene shot in a Baltimore backyard with laundry hanging on the line (as Moms used to say) between Christopher Walken ( Wilbur Turnblad) and John Travolta (as an almost scary Edna Turnblad) is OK with me. That that scene may also be one of the most romantic scenes of this or any year is crazy on the one hand and perplexing on the other. With that being said, director Adam Shankman has magically turned the stage musical into something that is more full of life, more effervescent than either the play or the John Waters slight, though terrific film of 1988. Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky who almost makes us forget Rikki Lake from the film) is a Baltimore teenager: chubby of body, colossal of hair and bubbling over with good cheer and ironclad self esteem. The year is 1962 and the signs of change are everywhere Tracy goes foremost of which is the "Corny Collins Show," an American Bandstand-type show which features a "Negro Day" once a month: a situation that Tracy and her friends Penny (Amanda Bynes) and Link (Zac Efron) are desperate to change into an everyday occurrence. Edna, who hasn't left the house since 1951 and therefore very much aware and embarrassed of her size discourages Tracy from auditioning as a dancer for the show but Tracy, to her credit, feels confident enough about her dancing does so anyway and is finally accepted into the Corny Collins fold much to the chagrin of both Velma Von Tussle ( a gorgeous Michelle Pfeiffer) and her daughter Amber (Brittany Snow). "Hairspray is also very much a capsule of its time and place: pregnant women smoking and drinking martinis, children in cars without seat belts buckled, boys and girls hair greased and sprayed to within an inch of its life (Tracy is accused of having a "hair-don't" at one point) and bigots spouting the kind of gunk that bigots do. "Hairspray" is ultimately a big, calorie laden birthday cake of a film: you know you shouldn't imbibe but you can't help yourself. But along with the sugar rush of this spectacle there lays some lumps based on reality which point out, not only how much has changed since 1962 but more importantly how much has stayed the same.

Neil Cohen 2012-05-05 00:34:04

Rat your hair, spray it high and Madison your way out to see Hairspray right now! It's easily the best time you'll have at the movies all summer! Dreamgirls only wishes it was as fabulous as Hairspray!

SyLvZ 2012-05-04 03:46:39

one to remember

hairspray was everything they said it was going to be. its a great musical, great acting, great story and just plain fun. if you're a fan of musicals it was the kind of film that made you get up off your seat and sing right along with it. travolta was of course a great fat lady. not only that, but it was cool seeing john and michelle appear in another musical other than grease and grease 2. SO CHECK IT OUT!!

Rene Rodriguez 2012-05-02 13:46:44

Hairspray delivers an even bigger sugar rush than the hit Broadway musical, which had already expanded on the exuberance of the 1988 John Waters comedy that spawned it.

rbrb 2012-05-01 18:39:38

A Juke Box Jury Big "Miss" from me.......

I lasted an hour before turning off this film. And I am asking myselfwhy? I love musicals and not just old ones but for instance Chicago wasexcellent and I am also "into" 50's and 60's music. But this picturelacked any appeal or charisma for me at least. Simple story: fat schoolgirl type becomes a star at the local TV station in an era when racediscrimination was rife. I can give this 2 rather than 1 votes as Iheard a couple of catchy songs. But maybe because of the false way thestory appeared to me or perhaps due to the way one of the lead actorsplaying his part in drag came across as so ridiculous, then again itcould be because of non existent humor in the film, hence for any ofthese factors I was deeply unimpressed.So between a 'hit' and a'miss'in my opinion the latter overwhelmingly prevails.

oysterfield 2012-04-30 12:45:19

Music and dance just keeps on coming

This is going to turn out to be one of the great ones of the genre!Originally, I wasn't too excited about seeing this film, likely becauseI knew nothing of the story or the music and probably turned-off by thetitle, which I thought childish. Fortunately, I got to see a NYpre-screening and wow was I wrong. In the first 2 minutes I realized wewere in for something special!This turns out to be the most enjoyable and engrossing movie musical Ican remember. It has something for everyone. Definitely will be addingthe DVD to my favorites collection when it comes out. The cast is incredible, with someone for every generation from kids upthrough Baby Boomers. They all fill a valid role and are enjoyable andlikable by probably all demographics (No one seems cast simply to drawa certain fan base). The music is tremendous. No wonder the soundtrackis Billboard #1 album right now. I'm still singing to myself dayslater, and my 10 and 12 year olds are doing it too! The songs andchoreographed action are nearly continuous, and the film editingcertainly enhances the beat.It's a real feel good movie with a moral, and clever little insiderjokes thrown in, too. Does everything these days need to be depressing?Bring the family... Everyone will enjoy. And incredibly, while the plottackles some serious issues, it's done appropriately for even the kids.I've now been fortunate to see the "Sing Along" version's NY premiere,also, and see the fan base growing enthusiatically. People simply getinvolved in this film (almost like the old Rocky Horror Picture Show).You don't leave it behind at the theatre. Watch this one at awardstime. But just see it first!

lastliberal 2012-04-29 16:13:08

Who wants a twig when you can climb the whole tree?

This was a thoroughly enjoyable movie and the casting selection wasexcellent.The music, songs, and choreography were all top notch. The lyrics weremoving and I really felt stirred, especially when Queen Latifah wassinging "Big, Blonde and Beautiful" and "I Know Where I've Been".Michelle Pfeiffer was super as an aging beauty queen living vicariouslythrough her daughter. John Travolta was brilliant as Edna. ChristopherWalken and Amanda Bynes were also excellent choices for theircharacters.It was funny, heartwarming, and had a message that is still importantas we fight for equal rights for ALL Americans regardless of color,race, or sexual orientation.

Clayton Davis 2012-04-27 19:44:06

A little less spray, too stiff

Adam Shankman directs and choreographs this adaptation of the hitBroadway musical, "Hairspray" of the same title. Starring newcomerNikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad a young teenager looking to get a spoton her favorite local dance show. Along the way she changes her 1962Baltimore city and opens their eyes to the beauty of desegregation.Along with a star-studded cast ranging from Academy Award nominees JohnTravolta, Michelle Pfeiffer and Queen Latifah, winner ChristopherWalken, and a slew of teeny-bopper talent such as Zac Efron, AmandaBynes, Elijah Kelley and more; this is a fun hearted family film.Blonsky tackles her role with ease and puts forth a vivacious andentertaining performance in the role of Tracy. Completely engaging withthe audience and breaking through all the talent of this film, Blonskyis a talent to watch in the coming years.As critics go crazy for John Travolta's performance as Edna Turnbladoriginally played by Harvey Fierstein, I find him incredibly miscastand even more distracting from the picture. This might be one of theworst performances of the year in my humble opinion. Travolta hasn'tbeen more annoying and even less talented in previous roles.Pfeiffer is a marvel in her musical numbers and turns in a very uniqueand lively villainous performance. Pfeiffer has been off the radar fora couple of years and its good to see the veteran actress still workingand turning in good work.Latifah is excellent in her "Matron Mama-like" role. Walken is simpleand considerate of the audience and is perfectly cast in his role asWilbur. James Marsden and Elijah Kelley are the best of the supportingplayers as they stand out in the crowd of many loud and lively singersand dancers.Amanda Bynes is disappointing in her turn as Penny, a role that suitedher perfectly. Efron is normal as ever in his element of musical films.Brittany Snow as Amber is comedic brilliance in her whiny girl role.Allison Janney is brief but equally effective as anyone else.Hairspray is loud with color and set and fun in artistry andentertainment but alas, this is no Chicago, Moulin Rouge! or anythingof those sorts. It's fun and fun it shall remain, just like theBroadway show.Grade: ***/****

seawalker 2012-04-27 06:37:29

Great, fun film

If you think that "Grease" is the greatest movie of all time (my eldestSister does), or you think that what we really need are more films like"Dirty Dancing" (yes, same Sister), or you think that "High SchoolMusical" is the best movie to come along in the past couple of years(no, that was my Niece talking that time) then you are really going tolove "Hairspray". Myself I thought it was corny, clichéd, camp beyondbelief and as subtle as a sledgehammer.However, get this. "Hairspray" is totally saved by it's energy,exuberance and great songs. True, John Travolta is a tad underused anda prime example of stunt casting, but he really sparked off ChristopherWalken during their scenes together. The whole black/white integrationplot was a bit heavy handed, but there was no way that it could havebeen done more subtly in this kind of movie. Michelle Pfeiffer andBrittany Snow were good as the hissable villains. Amanda Byrnes waslovable as the best friend of the heroine. (And actually kind of sexy.Don't look at me like that. She's 21. I checked. I'm only 43; nearly44. It could work between us.) Nikki Blonsky, and especially ElijahKelley, were just bags of energy. They exploded off the screen.Some won't get "Hairspray". There were some walkouts from the screeningI attended. (Boo, hiss! Be off with you to watch robots killing eachother!) More fool them. But, if you do get it, "Hairspray" is a great,fun film.