A Scientist at the Movies Reviews by Greg Paris

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Title: Hair Spray (2007)

Date Viewed: 9/3/07

Details:

John Travolta (Edna Turnblad)

Christopher Walken (Wilbur Turnblad)

Nikki Blonsky (Tracy Turnblad)

Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma Von Tussle)

Brittany Snow (Amber Von Tussle)

Queen Latifah (Motormouth Maybelle)

Amanda Bynes (Penny Pingleton)

Allison Janney (Prudy Pingleton)

James Marsden (Corny Collins)

Zac Efron (Link Larkin)

Elijah Kelley (Seaweed)

Director: Adam Shankman

Score: +

The Review: "You can't stop the beat!" Indeed.

I guess it's time for a belated confession. I guess I have to say I enjoy musicals. This reluctant revelation has been a long time coming. I've refused to admit this for several decades, but the data lay bare the real situation. There was a long time when it presented as a stubborn preference for drama (e.g., GBS), especially in live theatre -- but there were always those occasional musicals on Broadway or in the theatre, attended perhaps grudgingly, but then the soundtrack CD would play for weeks in my car's stereo and still bring chills. And then there's the observation that I will still willingly put on the Brigadoon video (perhaps not in front of company) and watch it all the way through, not just the last 10 minutes; all things Scottish notwithstanding, this is still a symptom. And then, watching the trailers for Hair Spray (and the as-yet-unreleased August Rush), it started to clarify -- I like music of many different styles & tastes, always have, and there's no denying the beat in the score. Damn it Janet (there's another longstanding example), I like musicals. So turn the volume up to 11 (yet another, sort-of), and revel in exuberance.

Hair Spray is basic nostalgia, at least for those of us old enough to have lived through the original timeframe: the 50's, early B&W television dance shows, popular music, race relations, protest marches, bouffant hairdos and joke shops. Well, perhaps not joke shops, but you get the picture. Everyone under the age of 18 wants to be on the live broadcast, tryouts are coming up soon, so why not cut school and go? And it shouldn't matter if you're not quite the contemporary embodiment of slim beauty. Perhaps not as distinctive or cutting as John Waters' 1988 original, but more than enjoyable in its own right.

A broadly attractive cast with several great cameos. Apparently the role of mother Edna Turnblad has never been played by a woman -- the original film and the stage presentation both used men in drag, and this edition is no exception. Travolta is pretty good, but one catchphrase in the credits is amusingly appropriate: "specialty body elements"! Indeed.

(27-Oct-07)

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