Hairspray

This is a film version of the Tony-winning musical, which in turn was based on the John Waters 1988 movie of the same name. The first thing you notice about this film is that the energy level is set to an extreme high for the entire film. Everyone is all smiles, all the tempos are fast (save for one), and the whole thing rushes past like a speeding train. The film sometimes slightly leans towards the absurd, and it's tongue is planted firmly in cheek. The music is based on 60s pop, but didn't make much of an impression on me.

The film's plot is about Tracy Turnblad (played by newcomer Nikki Blonsky) trying to get on the local Baltimore dance show hosted by Corny Collins. She lives to dance. The movie has a great cast; in fact the cast could hardly be improved upon. John Travolta as Tracy's mom is a joy to watch, and he looks like he is really having a great time. There aren't really any bad performances in the whole movie. Nikki Blonsky is on the screen for almost the entire movie and how much you will enjoy this movie will depend on how much you would enjoy spending two hours with her beaming grin.

Musicals are very strange animals. Their effect depends on so many different elements pulling together: music, acting, art direction, dancing, and plot. Of the musicals I have seen, the ones that rise to a truly great level are a very small number. The Wizard of Oz,Oliver (which has such lovely music) and West Side Story (which has everything) are musicals that I could watch again and again. You can really appreciate great dancing when it is shot full screen with little editing as in Oliver and West Side Story. If you are going to show dancing then show it, don't edit it too death. Many musicals either have weak plots or boring music. The music of this particular Hairspray is okay, but doesn't stand out in any particular way. The performances in the movie are pretty good, but the music is very safe, predictable, and not all that imaginative.

If the thought of a musical doesn't scare you to death, then please check this out. It is a hoot seeing Walken and Travolta playing man and wife. Every movie needs a solid villain, and this movie has one in Michelle Pfeiffer. She is great in this movie and holds her own quite well. The acting and the great cast is good enough to overcome the more mundane aspects of the movie. The movie moves along at such a brisk pace that nothing has time to stick. It is a one note movie, all upbeat and smiling, and on that level is works pretty well. Queen Latifah, playing Motormouth Maybelle has a couple of solid musical numbers. I do not think we have seen her best work yet. You get the impression that she could be a really strong lead given the right material.

You can write James Harper at movielover77061@yahoo.com