Hairspray (2007)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Adam Shankman

Writers (WGA):

Leslie Dixon (screenplay)
John Waters (1988 screenplay)

Release Date:

20 July 2007 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Musical | Romance

Tagline:

Get ready for something big July 20th!

Plot:

Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.

Plot Keywords:

Dance | Audition | Best Friend | Television | Protest Sign

Awards:

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 12 wins & 18 nominations

Cast

John Travolta	...	Edna Turnblad
Michelle Pfeiffer	...	Velma Von Tussle
Christopher Walken	...	Wilbur Turnblad
Amanda Bynes	...	Penny Pingleton
James Marsden	...	Corny Collins
Queen Latifah	...	Motormouth Maybelle
Brittany Snow	...	Amber Von Tussle
Zac Efron	...	Link Larkin
Elijah Kelley	...	Seaweed
Allison Janney	...	Prudy Pingleton
Nikki Blonsky	...	Tracy Turnblad
Taylor Parks	...	Little Inez
Jayne Eastwood	...	Miss Wimsey
Paul Dooley	...	Mr. Spritzer
Jerry Stiller	...	Mr. Pinky

MPAA:

Rated PG for language, some suggestive content and momentary teen smoking.

Runtime:

117 min

Country:

USA | UK

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital | SDDS | DTS

Certification:

USA:PG | UK:PG | Ireland:PG | Singapore:PG | Netherlands:AL | Argentina:Atp | Mexico:A | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Geneva) | Portugal:M/6 (Qualidade) | Hong Kong:I | France:U | Germany:o.Al. | Finland:K-3 | Malaysia:U | South Korea:12 | Brazil:Livre | Philippines:G | Sweden:Btl | Taiwan:GP | Australia:PG | Czech Republic:12 | Denmark:A

Filming Locations:

1116 King St. W., Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Company:

New Line Cinema

Trivia:

Nikki Blonsky celebrated her 18th birthday with her family and friends while on the set of this movie.

Goofs:

Factual errors: During the opening "Good Morning Baltimore" song segment, a school bus labeled "Patterson School District" passes behind Tracy on the streets of Baltimore. Although she attends Patterson Park High School, it's still the Baltimore School District.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Tracy Turnblad: [singing] Oh, oh, oh, woke up today, feeling the way I always do. Oh, oh, oh, hungry for something that I can't eat. Then I hear that beat. That rhythm of town starts calling me down. It's like a message from high above. Oh, oh, oh, pulling me out to the smiles and the streets that I love. Good morning, Baltimore!

Movie Connections:

References Broadway Melody of 1938 (1937)

Soundtrack:

The Nicest Kids in Town

Fantastic!

As a fan of the stage musical, I was worried that the film might not measure up - but they hit this one out of the ballpark! Bright, bouncy and joyously hilarious! A big smile hit my face as soon as it started and I didn't stop grinning until the end of the credits.

I haven't heard a press screening audience applaud after musical numbers since "Chicago" - and they cheered! The huge cast is uniformly terrific. Travolta, Pfeiffer and Walken are a hoot and Nikki Blonsky couldn't be more perfect.

The performances, script, lyrics, sight gags and costumes wage an all-out assault on your funny bone. Even the set dressing gets laughs!

This is the movie musical that Grease, Rent and Dreamgirls should have been.

Bravo!