HAIRSPRAY-The Movie...The Musical...The Movie Musical!

Hello Everyone!



Normally I don't write about movies and such, but I will make an exception for this particular situation.

As you may or may not know-Hairspray the Movie was released last weekend. It is a film adaptation of the stage musical that was adapted from a John Waters movie from 1988.

Confused? Let me see if I can sort it out

John Waters-the brilliant yet totally twisted director of such films as "Cry Baby", "Serial Mom (Now Chip, you know we don't use the brown word...)", "A Dirty Shame (Let's Go Sexin'!)", and "Pecker (Full of Grace, Full of Grace!)"...released "Hairspray" in 1988. The story revolves around Tracy Turnblad (played by Ricki Lake), an upper-lower class teen that achieves overnight stardom after auditioning for a Baltimore dance television show. The film also gets into race relations, class issues, and how body-image can make or break you. The amazing thing about the original movie is to see how Ricki Lake's hair changes-it is huge, then blond and huge, and then flat. I cannot reveal why it changes so much-you are going to have to rent it and find out. Needless to say-she is a hairhopper!

The movie itself is not good at all, but with people like Divine, Debbie Harry, Ruth Brown and Pia Zadora involved...certainly make for some memorable moments....

In the infinite wisdom of Broadway-the film was taken and adapted for the stage, with Harvey Fierstein playing the role of Tracy's mother Edna (originally played brilliantly by Divine).

The live show was a treat-fun music, great gimmicks, and a great message...but it lacked the dark humor that made the original movie such a cult classic. Then again-how can Broadway be anything but smiles!

This new adaptation, in my opinion, is great! The choreography is incredible, the musical numbers are energetic, and the performances, for the most part, are flawless.
Michelle Pfeiffer is wonderfully evil as Velma Von Tussel, the woman that runs the television station that airs the Corny Collins Show (the American Bandstand-esque show that causes the dance crazes). Velma is also the mother of Amber, the most popular girl on the show, and the assumed winner of Miss Hairspray...that is until Tracy Turnblad enters the scene.
Queen Latifa is silky smooth as Motor Mouth Mabel, the Queen of Baltimore Soul, and the mother of Seaweed, who becomes the love interest of Penny Pingleton, the best friend of Tracy.
The narrative here is convoluted, but there is a reason for that-YOU ARE MEANT TO SEE THE MOVIE! Not just the new adaptation, but make sure you view the original first...some of the references will make more sense.
Also of note are the cameos in the new film: Jerry Stiller as Mr. Pinky of Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway, Ricki Lake as a William Morris Agent, and John Waters as the flasher who lives next door-perfect casting if ever there was....

My only criticism would be John Travolta in the role of Edna Turnblad. He was cheesy, unnatural, and frankly creepy looking.

If anyone out there has seen it-share your opinion with me!