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 | Friend | Best Friend | Audition | Dancing

Awards:

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

US TV Schedule:

Thur. Nov. 12	6:30 AM	HBO
Tue. Nov. 17	9:30 AM	HBO
Fri. Nov. 20	6:00 PM	HBO

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 Geneva) | Switzerland:7 (canton of Vaud) | 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:

After Penny and Seaweed fall in love, she sings, "And if they try to stop us, Seaweed/We'll call the N-double A-C-P." Until the Supreme Court's 1967 decision in Loving v. Virginia, interracial marriage was illegal in 17 states, including Maryland. In Baltimore, Maryland, in 1962, Seaweed and Penny's relationship was illegal.

Goofs:

Continuity: In the first "Nicest Kids In Town" number Amber Von Tussle is wearing a stripped pink dress and has her hair done like a bee hive. In the second "Nicest Kids In Town" number you can see a small clip from behind of her wearing the same thing. The first clip was used a second time.

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:

Featured in "Getaway: (#16.31)" (2007)

Soundtrack:

The Nicest Kids in Town (Reprise)

Waterish Fun

Not that I'm surprised that I liked it but yes that I liked it as much as I did. Keeping some of the lovely John Water garishness but mainstreaming it enough to make it mainstream. John Travolta in the Divine part is truly divine. He went for it and played it for real. I thought it was actually moving at times and the illusion works, beautifully. Michelle Pfeiffer opening a new chapter in her career, the thin as a rail, gorgeous, middle age bitch. Great fun to watch. Christopher Walken, adorable. I had hoped a bigger splash of a dance number between Travolta and Walken - after all they were playing husband and wife in a musical and when are we going to see that again. Their moments together are, how can I put it? Nice, very nice. Nikki Blonsky inherits Riki Lake's oversize heroine with gusto and lots of energy. Allison Jenney, as usual, steals every moment she's in. Alas, far too few, and John Waters plays a quick cameo as a Baltimore flasher. What else do you want out of life.