26 out of 29 people found the following review helpful:
You won't want to stop the beat
JJTimothy from ,
3rd August, 2007
In early '60s Baltimore, a city plagued by random musical numbers, all the hep kids love the local weekday afternoon song and dance TV show sponsored by Clutch Hairspray and hosted by Corny Collins (all-singing, all-dancing, all-cheesy-grinning James Marsden- I for one will never see X-Men in quite the same light again!) When perpetually cheerful Tracy Turnblad, one of the Corny's biggest fans and that's not just an expression, hears that the show is auditioning dancers she leaps at the chance shaking up friends, family and the TV studio and opposing segregation along the way before differences are resolved by more singing and dancing.
Like The Producers (2005) this is based on a stage musical adapted in turn from an earlier film with the stage choreographer given the megaphone for the film version. Though funny and exuberant Hairspray lacks Mel Brooks' manic brilliance of course but Adam Shankman's light, sure touch is more than adequate compensation carrying the film along with pace and style. By contrast The Producers showed little directorial flair coasting on the inherent quality of its material.
On screen it's impossible to tell who's having the most fun. John Travolta seems more at home in a fat-suit and sequined dress than I would ever have thought possible as Tracy's reclusive mother, blossoming when she finally lets her hair down (or, more precisely, combs it up), and how Michelle Pfeiffer managed to keep her face straight whilst vamping her way through “Miss Baltimore Crabs” might become one of the great mysteries of the 21st Century. Nikki Blonsky as Tracy has a clear, pretty voice made for belting out the cheerful songs and twirls and bounces with such energy and enthusiasm it's impossible not to smile, in fact all involved acquit themselves well though I wished Christopher Walken and Alison Janney had more to do. I could criticize cardboard characters, one note performances or thin plotting but this is a musical and when a film offers this much good-natured fun that would just be ungracious.
Funny, ebullient and all heart. Enjoy.
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