Movie Reviews

David James/New Line Cinema

Review in a Hurry:  A big girl with a big heart, Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) has big dreams of winning "Miss Teenage Hairspray" (hey, it's 1962). But big mama Edna  (John Travolta, in Divine drag) worries about her daughter's chances with the cool crowd. Everything about Hairspray is huge—big figures, big 'dos, big musical numbers and big fun. It deserves to be a supersize hit.

The Bigger Picture:  In case you're keeping track, Hairspray has traveled the same production path as The Producers. First, it was a movie, then a Broadway musical, and then—hold onto your tap shoes—a movie musical! The difference? Hairspray gets it right.

High schooler Tracy has gotta sing, gotta dance and every day watches The Corny Collins Show, Baltimore's hottest TV dance party. Though not as traditionally pretty as the other teens, she impresses the host with her hipster moves and scores a spot on the show.

Tracy Turnblad becomes an on-air sensation and wins the affection of heartthrob Link Larkin (Zac Efron from High School Musical). That ticks off dance diva Amber Von Tussel (Brittany Snow) and her scheming mother, Velma (Michelle Pfeiffer), so get ready for a bitch fight! Okay, it's more of a dance-off...but still fierce.

Then Tracy becomes involved in a more significant battle—one for racial integration. While leading a protest march, along with classmate Seaweed J. Stubbs (Elijah Kelley) and Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah), she's slapped with an arrest warrant. How will she dance her way out of this one?

Energetically directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman, fizzy Hairspray features one applaudable number after another—as well as a high-kicking cast. Norbit-sized Travolta has sweet and funny moments, especially with hubby Wilbur Turnblad (Christopher Walken). The Queen does some regal belting, while Kelley—an amazing performer—tears it up in his featured songs.

But a major weight falls on newcomer Blonsky, and the sunny, spunky, comfortably zaftig actress (like Dreamgirl Jennifer Hudson before her) capably carries the show.

The 180—a Second Opinion:  Sure, it's great to see purr-fectly slinky Pfeiffer again playing a catty woman—meow! But the lengthy scene in which her hissable villain tries to seduce joke-shop owner Walken doesn't land on its comic feet. Get out the clippers, because their clumsy shtick trips up the film's pacing and—like Pfeiffer's claws—needs a good trimming.