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Bookmark this pageHairspray (2007)
Director: Adam Shankman
Movie review
From Time Out London
Let’s get one thing clear: there is nothing questionable about heterosexual actor John Travolta clad in a fat suit, dragged up in pink sequins and breathily trilling ‘I’m the cutest chickie that you ever did see!’ There is, however, something awkward and faintly disturbing about watching his Edna Turnblad dance and duet with Christopher Walken’s Mr Turnblad dressed in toreador kitsch. Divine it ain’t. In fact, so peculiarly mannered is Edna’s transformation from chipmunky homebody to liberated blob that it’s quite impossible to forget you’re watching John Travolta in latex and, therefore, to suspend disbelief. Nor is that made any easier by uncertain, sometimes clashing performances from such other big names as Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah and indeed Walken, whose dance skills are criminally underused.
That said, this new ‘Hairspray’ – adapted from the Broadway musical based on the 1988 film – is often great fun. Though not as scabrous, as sharp or even as musically memorable as John Waters’ original, it retains much of his filthy, big-hearted sensibility (he cameos as a happy flasher) and is less deadeningly stagey than that other recent film-of-the-musical-of-the-film, ‘The Producers’. Stepping into Ricki Lake’s pumps as Tracy Turnblad – the tubby teen who takes 1962 Baltimore music TV by storm and nearly sparks a race riot by declaring ‘I wish every day were Negro Day!’ – Nikki Blonsky is unflaggingly chipper as both naive kid chastised for ‘inappropriate hair height’ and indignant civil-rights activist. Throw in plenty of sparky numbers and snarky gags and ‘that chubby Communist girl’ is hard to resist.
Author: Ben Walters
Time Out London Issue 1926: July 18-24 2007
User reviews of this film
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- Linda said...
- Posted on Sep 10 2007 21:32 Loved it, loved it, loved. Went straight out and bought the soundtrack. My daughter and I can't stop singing it. Definately going to see it again and taking all my friends too.
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- Rebekah said...
- Posted on Sep 08 2007 11:18 This Film Is Amazing If U Havent Saw It U Should Cause I Loved It !! I Like Musical Films Its Kinda A Musical xD But Its Great 5 Stars For Me !! xx
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- olivia said...
- Posted on Sep 07 2007 21:05 This film just makes me smile. Whatever the mood i know i am jus going to feel happy after seeing it. the dancing and the aching of john travolta is amazing. Zac efron jus gets better evertime i see him
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- Kate said...
- Posted on Sep 07 2007 11:08 Absolutely excellent, the most fun I have had watching a film in years, I was smiling or laughing the whole way through! It's really feel good and makes you want to dance and I don't agree that it's not as musically memorable, I have the OST and can't get the songs out of my head I love them! Also lil Zac Efron is a revelation, that kid deserves more praise for his actual talent than he gets. I thought everyone was brilliant in it, not a bad performance all round and Nikki Blonsky is terrific, her voice literally smiles as she sings. Very inspiring for voluptuous women and anyone who is different
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- fiona said...
- Posted on Sep 04 2007 17:09 Brilliant- go see it -it will cheer you up.
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- cooldudette x said...
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Posted on Sep 03 2007 16:14
Omg this film was halarious , x
It was the bomdiggidyy x :D
Was so gid seen it twice defo see it again . x
People you have to go see it its sooo god . x :P :L
10/10 ********** x - Report as inappropriate
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- Katie Owende said...
- Posted on Aug 31 2007 19:58 This film gave me a real buzz!!!!Felt like getting up and having a jig myself!! John Travolta was sooooo funny in it!!!heehee
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- Ian Orient said...
- Posted on Aug 31 2007 15:16 Excellent - best film I have seen in years, please go and see it.
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- paige W said...
- Posted on Aug 31 2007 13:30 OH MY GOSH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the best film eva, i want to watch it again. when the dvds out i'm getting it. You have to see it (even if you already have watch it again)
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- X..Beth..X said...
- Posted on Aug 31 2007 11:24 Brilliant... ALl the songs are great and its a good, fun film to see.... Defiently reccomend it.
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- Lol said...
- Posted on Aug 28 2007 15:08 This Film is just amazing ive seen it three times and have the soundtack! i no all the words to the songs and it is just amazing,thrilling and funny! it makes me laff every tym! Defintley go see it! x
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- e4tt said...
- Posted on Aug 27 2007 18:07 wkd
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- jules said...
- Posted on Aug 26 2007 11:55 A fantastic fun cinema experience, easily the most exciting film I've seen in years. I've seen it twice and am going to see it again tonight. I persuaded loads of people to see it and they all bought the soundtrack. Fabulous Fabulous!
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- Belinda said...
- Posted on Aug 26 2007 01:00 Fabulous!!, Loved it, John Travolta & Michelle Pfieffer you are both class!! FANTASTIC From Malta.
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- zayneb said...
- Posted on Aug 25 2007 13:33 i think hair spray was really good i liked it because amanda bynes was in it. i think it is a really good film to watck and if you have not seen it you should
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Cast & crew
Director: Adam Shankman
Producer: Craig Zadan, Neil Meron
Cast: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Christopher Walken, James Marsden, Brittany Snow, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Elijah Kelley, Queen Latifah, Allison Janney full cast
Rated: PG
Duration: 116 mins
UK Release: Jul 20 2007
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