I’ll admit that the realisation this is a musical came as a teeny bit of a shock. I don’t do musicals.
But Hairspray was just so much damn fun!
Based on a stage musical, Hairspray contains all the cheesy elements you expect from earnestly happy script. There’s the unusual girl who lights up everyone’s life, the heartless witch who refuses to accept difference, the good-natured father, the whole shebang.
Once I got used to John Travola in a fat-suit and in drag I kind of went along with the film, and even found myself grooving along to some of the songs.
A recommended film, not too cerebral, not too intense, just a nice afternoon at the cinema.
17 September, 2007 at 3:14 am
have you seen the original hairspray movie?
17 September, 2007 at 6:50 am
isn’t that a campy 70s version?
i think i might have.
17 September, 2007 at 9:20 am
Nope, it’s an 80′s version with Ricky Lake and is really, really good.
I saw the trailer for the new one and thought, nope not worth it.
17 September, 2007 at 11:49 am
ditto the comment on the 80s version. brian is upset that john travolta played divine’s part. he hates travolta. i have secret love for him (or, at least, the him of yore).
19 September, 2007 at 4:13 pm
Beth:
The really odd – in a good way – thing about Travolta is that he plays the part absolutely straight, and is rather moving. OK Scientology gives me the shits big time, but Travolta can dance in character which is much harder than you think.
19 September, 2007 at 4:15 pm
Oh, and Michelle Pfieffer is a poisonous joy as a scenery-chewing bigoted hair-don’t ho-bag.