Laurie’s Reel Thing Chick Flick Review: “Hairspray”

It’s hot and sticky outside, the absolutely perfect chick flick-watching weather. And I have the absolutely perfect fun flick to watch while you’re soaking up all that nice frigid cinema multi-plex AC: “Hairspray.”

In case you’ve been living in a cave, “Hairspray” the movie is based upon the hit Broadway show that was based on the kinda weird original 1988 John Waters’ film (that, incidentally, gave Ricki Lake’s career a jumpstart). I saw and loved the show and though “they” say this latest celluloid incarnation is not as good as the stage version, I say “they” are (ahem) splitting hairs.

I started smiling from the get-go, with the opening “Good Morning, Balitmore” number featuring the latest Tracy Turnblad, newcomer Nikki Blonsky, singing and dancing her heart out about the local drunks and flashers wishing her a good day at school. Blonsky is adorable and you just have to love this young actress’ own personal backstory. In a victory for all the size zero never-bees, this plus-sized cutie was actually hard at work scooping ice cream when she got her big cinematic break.

The songs are great fun, the costumes and sets straight from the ‘50’s, and the rest of the cast reads like one big red carpet reunion: John Travolta as Tracy’s mom (the part played by Harvey Fierstein on stage), Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer (who BTW looks scarily emaciated in this company; if the camera puts on 10 pounds, she must make the pre-pregnant Nicole R. look plump), Amanda Bynes (as Tracy’s adorable BFF, Penny Pingleton), Christopher Walken, Jerry Stiller, Zac Efron, Brittany Snow, etc., etc.

What? You want more than a fab score, sets, costuming, and cast? The story’s a winner, too; this look at the integration of a “National Bandstand”-like 50’s-era TV dance party show is an eye opening reminder of how things were during these tumultuous times. While not a history lesson by any means, this musical comedy's more serious storyline might just spark some discussion with your kids about the civil rights era.

So, what are you waiting for? The heat and humidity guarantee a string of upcoming bad hair days – everywhere except your local cinema-plex, that is.

Comments

I'm with you - I saw the play on Broadway a couple of years ago, and the movie last weekend. I smiled the whole time! My fiance was praying for a meteor to hit the theater, however. And my 10-y-o stepdaughter thought it was "ok," except for the part where "the old people were dancing together."