Hairspray
Hairspray, I’ve discovered is a 2007 movie based on the 2002 Broadway musical, which, I understand, was based on the 1988 movie!?!?! Sigh. Dear Lord!
Well anyway, my wife had to remind me of a promise I made, (that I would go to more of “her” movies), to get me to go; trust me, I really wasn’t interested in a musical, I knew that much. I didn’t look into the movie so I didn’t know what to expect when the theatre went dark, aside from my popcorn and a box of Reese’s Pieces. Now, I am a little finicky here, I do not like movies that deliver messages! When I went to the show I expected a flick about a plump teen-age girl that wanted to be on a TV dance show. When I discovered that it was about integration in the early 1960’s, I’ll admit, I was put off. No! I am not prejudice; I just get tired of message movies; which is why I quit going to see Steven Seagal. I mean, when I pay $8 or $9 for a movie, I want to be entertained; not watch something I can see on A&E.
Now that I got that out of the way, about the movie: I went to theatre already convinced I wouldn’t like it, I mean, it was a musical message movie, (a singing telegram, if you will), two points against it already. Okay, I settled in and opened my mind for my wife’s sake and… had a good time watching the show.
Two truly amazing things in the movie were two of the central characters. First, Nikki Blonsky, (Traci Turnblad), had never acted professionally before, she tried out for the part but worked at a local “Cold Stone” ice cream store, (her work-mates cheered when they heard she got the part). Then there was John Travolta who played Edna Turnblad, Traci’s obese mother that hadn’t been outside of her home in eleven years. Far-fetched? Not at all, Travolta pulled it off with talent and grace… well, as much grace as a middle-aged, over-weight woman can have; and, believe, or not, she dances pretty darned good.
Yes, it was about a plump teen-age girl (Traci), in 1962 Baltimore, that wanted to be on a TV dance show. But she was at the mercy of show’s resident Barbi doll girls, one by the name of Amber, (whose mother ran the station, Velma Von Tussle played by Michelle Pfeiffer), was especially out to put the kabosch on anything Traci. Traci’s problems multiplied when she made friends with the Black kids who danced on the show once a month on, what was called, “Negro” day.
The Cast, which included Travolta, Pfeiffer, Blonsky along with Christopher Walken, (Traci’s dad Wilbur who couldn’t love a woman under size 60), Queen Latifah, (Motormouth Maybelle), and others was great. Even Jerry Stiller had a part in it. The music was fun, as it should be in a musical; my favorites were, (You’re) Timeless To Me” the love song between Mr. And Mrs. Turnblad, (John Travolta and Christopher Walken if you can picture it), and “You Can’t Stop The Beat”, by, pretty much, the whole cast. It was during “You Can’t Stop the Beat” that Edna, (Travolta); hit the dance floor in a sequined dress… at the urging of her loving husband, Wilbur.
But why was it called “Hairspray”? Well, the Corny Collins’ Show, (the dance show), was going to have a “Miss Hairspray” contest during one of the shows. Amber von Tussle, (Brittany Snow), was a shoe-in because her mom, Velma, (Pfeiffer), ran the studio and rigged the contest. Feeling threatened by Traci, (Blonsky), the Von Tussle ladies swung into action, even to the point where Velma tried to seduce Traci’s nerdy father, Wilbur. But Traci is not to be deterred, soliciting the help of the “Negro Day” dancers Traci is determined to dance on the show, win the contest and win the heart of the “Corny Collins’ Show” heart-throb, Link Larkin, (Zac Efron).
So, when all is said and done, does Tracie win her man? Maybe. Does Amber or Traci win the contest? There’s a ringer in the crowd!
Okay, so it was the third generation singing telegram movie; it was great fun, predictable, yeah, but great fun… go see it!
I’ll give it 3½ clouds out of 5. I enjoyed it but…
