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Originally written and directed by filmmaker John Waters in 1988, and then put on Broadway, the camp musical HAIRSPRAY could easily have run its course with viewers. But thank...Read more
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Hairspray Remake Makes The Connection With My Daughter
Just when I thought I'd never see a really cute movie again, along came the second remake of the 1988 film Hairspray, originally directed by none other than John Waters. You'...Read more
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Movie synopsis
Originally written and directed by filmmaker John Waters in 1988, and then put on Broadway, the camp musical HAIRSPRAY could easily have run its course with viewers. But thanks to playful direction, flashy costumes, over-the-top performances, and a positive message of peace, this newest spin proves to be yet another enjoyable incarnation. Set in 1960s Baltimore, the story follows a plump young girl named Tracy Turnblad (played by impressive newcomer Nikki Blonski) on an amazing journey as her dream of dancing on the popular Corny Collins Show becomes a reality. The local television program is a shiny spectacle spear-headed by Corny Collins (James Marsden), a gang of young dancers, and producer Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer), a seductress ice queen whose manipulative ways ensure her daughter Amber (Brittany Snow) gets more than her fair share of screen time as one of the show's stars. When Tracy shows up at an open call, Velma can barely contain her rage, and sets out to rid the show of Tracy and the talented black dancers who make up the show's popular "Negro Day." Thus begins a war of talent and a battle for justice, with those in favor of integration meeting many obstacles along the way.While less out-there than Waters's original, the film still contains some very quirky humor. John Travolta playing Tracy's overweight mother may seem an odd concept at first, but in this context it works. Scenes that would ordinarily be cheesy are made more interesting due to the odd dynamic between Christopher Walken and John Travolta playing man and wife. As the two dance and woo one another, the strange smile on Travolta's lipsticked lips and the grace of Walken's dancing will be sure to fascinate viewers. Viewers should also watch for cameos by Ricki Lake, and by John Waters as a Baltimore streaker. With all the wacky comedy, it's often easy to forget that the meat of HAIRSPRAY is a battle over racial integration. The film manages to create some touching moments in the midst of sparkling musical numbers.
Product Details
- Edition: Widescreen
- Number of Discs: 1
- Rating: PG (MPAA)
- Film Country: USA
- UPC: 794043112126
| Additional Details | |
| Genre: | Musical & Performing Arts |
| Format: | DVD |
| Display Format: | Widescreen |
Credits
| Director: | Adam Shankman |
| Leading Role: | Nicole Blonsky, John Travolta |
eBay Product ID: EPID62929235
Editorial reviews
Total Film - James White (07/01/2007)
Entertainment Weekly - Owen Gleiberman (07/27/2007)
USA Today - Claudia Puig (07/20/2007)
New York Times - A. O. Scott (07/19/2007)
Rolling Stone - Peter Travers (08/09/2007)
Sight and Sound - Kate Stables (09/01/2007)
Empire - Will Lawrence (09/01/2007)
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Hairspray Remake Makes The Connection With My Daughter
Created: 12/07/09
) 
Just when I thought I'd never see a really cute movie again, along came the second remake of the 1988 film Hairspray, originally directed by none other than John Waters. You've got to remember the old one to really appreciate this one even though the first one had some really big stars such as Sonny Bono & Deborah Harry as the parents.
We have to go back in time to the year 1962 again and pick up where the teenager Tracy Turnblad and her friend Penny Pingleton are watching the Corny Collins show and dreaming of how they could really fit into that scene. Tracy gets a chance to dance on the show and the rest is history. Her dancing skills attract Corny Collins, but also the attention of teenage heart throb, Link Larkin. But not everyone is happy with the decision to have her dance on the show. The shows manager, Velma von Tussle (Michelle Phieffer) will do anything to get Tracy kicked off the show, even if it has to include Tracy's parents of new friends Seaweed and Motormouth Maybelle.
Although we faced various racial issues back then, we start to believe that integration may just as well be the way of the future after all if everyone would just all get along together. We also are face with having to realize that all our petty prejudices about looks, race, and body size are really so unimportant and immature that we should have these sorts of feeling towards one another. Thanks John Waters for making the second film possible and flashing us in your cameo as well.
I give this a 4/5 because it's fun to watch and very cute.
IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEWS PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW BY VOTING. THANKS.
We have to go back in time to the year 1962 again and pick up where the teenager Tracy Turnblad and her friend Penny Pingleton are watching the Corny Collins show and dreaming of how they could really fit into that scene. Tracy gets a chance to dance on the show and the rest is history. Her dancing skills attract Corny Collins, but also the attention of teenage heart throb, Link Larkin. But not everyone is happy with the decision to have her dance on the show. The shows manager, Velma von Tussle (Michelle Phieffer) will do anything to get Tracy kicked off the show, even if it has to include Tracy's parents of new friends Seaweed and Motormouth Maybelle.
Although we faced various racial issues back then, we start to believe that integration may just as well be the way of the future after all if everyone would just all get along together. We also are face with having to realize that all our petty prejudices about looks, race, and body size are really so unimportant and immature that we should have these sorts of feeling towards one another. Thanks John Waters for making the second film possible and flashing us in your cameo as well.
I give this a 4/5 because it's fun to watch and very cute.
IF YOU LIKE MY REVIEWS PLEASE DON'T HESITATE TO LET ME KNOW BY VOTING. THANKS.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
Thank you for voting. If your vote meets our Hairspray is a musical with a message
Created: 11/04/08
) Forget comparing this movie to the original. Even Ricki Lake is best remembered for her talk show. John Travolta stars in a tour de force role which could only rival John Water's movie Polyester which starred Divine. If you're like me and hate most musicals, this movie will leave you once it's over ...singing a different tune. Queen Latifah including the entire ensemble cast lights the screen from start to finish. It's refreshing to watch a musical where the music itself is not necessarily a distraction from the storyline. The movie in a light hearted way addresses the inhumanity of racism while never forgeting to focus on the eternal optimism of the human spirit. Its that spirit in todays youth which continues to profess what lies ahead is destined to be a better day. Sit back and allow the movie to lift your spirit, make you laugh and remind us all where we've been, whether you're Black or White, and how far we still have to go. Most importantly, the movie reminds us that if we all hold our hands together, we might just get there a lot sooner...... with extra hold hairpray or not.
Not what I expected...thankfully!
Created: 22/11/07
) From someone who is definately NOT a fan of musicals (Read my review: THE SOUND OF MUSIC...or as I like to call it, the production from HELL!), "Hairspray" was well worth my money. This was definately a cute movie. The songs are catchy and upbeat. The humor and content have some mild adult and topical themes (racism), but wholesome enough for the whole family to enjoy. Nikki Blonski has an amazing singing voice. I expect many great things from her. Amanda Bynes has for the most part, remained delightfully unchanged since her Nickelodeon days. John Travolta and Christopher Walken were utterly hilarious in this film. It also has Zac Efron to attract the High School Musical crowd. All in all, a very good movie. I highly recommend it!
Again, that's rare coming from me!
Again, that's rare coming from me!
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Hairspray
Created: 23/01/08
) My whole family loves this movie.
We think that it was very cute and very funny. Nikki is so pretty and did a great job, Amanda Bynes with her constant lollipop was absolutely adorable, Zac is just plain cute (from a 'mom' perspective). I loved John and Christopher. I think the funniest part was John Travolta. Every time he opened his mouth we sat there and laughed. The whole cast had us laughing. I would loved to have smacked Brittany right up-side the head-- and that means she did a great job. Michelle was right up there, too. smack, smack.
At the same time the movie did a great job of really hitting the truth of the prejudice against Heavy/overweight/obese people, and racism. People can be discriminated against because of their looks, and not their abilities. I really can't stand that.
Being overweight doesn't equal ugly, untalented, and unacceptable anymore than does being white make one better than anyone else. It means that the rest of mankind needs to "get over it and get a life". Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and sometimes the beholder is the "ugly" one, as shown in the movie. I hope people enjoy this movie, laugh a lot, and still learn from it.
I really loved the fact that Nikki and Amanda were "blind". Black/white, thin/thick. It doesn't matter, and I liked that it was shown in the end.
We think that it was very cute and very funny. Nikki is so pretty and did a great job, Amanda Bynes with her constant lollipop was absolutely adorable, Zac is just plain cute (from a 'mom' perspective). I loved John and Christopher. I think the funniest part was John Travolta. Every time he opened his mouth we sat there and laughed. The whole cast had us laughing. I would loved to have smacked Brittany right up-side the head-- and that means she did a great job. Michelle was right up there, too. smack, smack.
At the same time the movie did a great job of really hitting the truth of the prejudice against Heavy/overweight/obese people, and racism. People can be discriminated against because of their looks, and not their abilities. I really can't stand that.
Being overweight doesn't equal ugly, untalented, and unacceptable anymore than does being white make one better than anyone else. It means that the rest of mankind needs to "get over it and get a life". Beauty is in the eyes of the beholder, and sometimes the beholder is the "ugly" one, as shown in the movie. I hope people enjoy this movie, laugh a lot, and still learn from it.
I really loved the fact that Nikki and Amanda were "blind". Black/white, thin/thick. It doesn't matter, and I liked that it was shown in the end.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.
HAIRSPRAY DVD
Created: 02/07/08
THIS IS A GREAT MOVIE, FULL OF WONDERFUL DANCING AND AWESOME MUSIC. JOHN TRAVOLTA IS STUNNING AS EDNA TURNBLAD. ALL OF THE CAST IS GREAT! WE ARE ADDICTED TO THIS MOVIE, WE HAVE WATCHED IT AT LEAST 50 TIMES IN THE LAST MONTH AND AT LEAST ONCE A DAY. THIS MOVIE WILL MAKE YOU WANT TO GET UP AND DANCE YOUR SOCKS OFF. WE LOVE IT... WE LOVE IT... WE LOVE IT!!! WE GIVE IT ***** FIVE STARS AND TWO THUMBS UP!