At the risk of sounding like a bad blurb in an ad, Hairspray may be the most fun we’ve had at the movies this year.
I grew up with a weakness for musicals, and while Hairspray comes up short on what I consider one of the big qualifications for a classic of the genre – songs that can stand apart from the narrative – it’s still a fine example of why the form never quite goes away. Singing and dancing your way through a story just adds a little something to it.
Hairspray is based on the 1998 John Waters film of the same title, which became a Broadway musical a few years ago. I’ve never seen the original, but my understanding is that it became a lot more mainstream in the conversion process, although the basic plotline wasn’t altered. Set in Baltimore in 1962, early in the civil-rights era, it’s the story of teenager Tracy Turnblad, who dreams of becoming a dancing regular on “The Corny Collins Show,” a local variation on “American Bandstand” (which was still broadcasting live every afternoon from Philadelphia in those days).
Tracy knows she doesn’t quite fit the mold looks-wise, but she knows she can dance and she believes that life should be fair, so she’ll make it. And because life should be fair, she’s going to bring Baltimore’s black teenagers along with her from their once-a-month “Negro Day” to be regular dancers every day on the show too. Tracy’s a big character in every way, but what matters is her personality and heart – you can’t help rooting for her.
The cast is great, starting with newcomer Nikki Blonsky as Tracy. Some have prior experience with musicals, including Zac Efron, a veteran of Disney’s High School Musical, but I’m starting to wonder if it’s a requirement for Queen Latifah to wear a blonde wig in every period musical she’s in. Then there’s the Grease connection, times two – although when I associate Michelle Pfeiffer with musical performances, I try not think of Grease 2, but rather of how she was the “fabulous” in The Fabulous Baker Boys. And as Tracy’s mother Edna Turnblad, John Travolta is not only entirely convincing, but can still dance even in dresses, heels, and lots of curvy padding. I was amused by Brittany Snow as Amber, who seemed like a “mean girl” twist on her character Meg Pryor in American Dreams (I still miss that show a little).
The kids will learn a little recent history, and you’ll all want to laugh and sing and dance in the aisles – take the family to see Hairspray.
