Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Movie Review: Hairspray

By John Garcia of John Garcia's The Column

Hairspray

Sixteen years after the release of the original film, New Line Cinema brings a feature film adaptation of the Tony award-winning Broadway production "Hairspray" to life. Based on John Waters' 1988 cult classic about star-struck teenagers on a local Baltimore dance show, the comedy features new and original material.

Source: Cinema Source

• Showtimes and more on Hairspray

Chicago the movie musical opened to both critical and financial rewards, topping off its glittery success with the top prize, the Academy Award for Best Picture. Rob Marshall's magnificent musical opus brought back to life a genre that was dormant for many years, the movie musical.

Since then other musicals have made it to the silver screen with a variety of results. Rent, while not a critical success (I personally thought it was riveting and emotionally powerful), did recoup its investment. Sadly, Susan Stroman's film version of her juggernaut Broadway hit The Producers flopped, both artistically and financially. As did Phantom of the Opera starring the muscle hunk from 300. Dreamgirlsfor the most part did receive critical praise and was a big ole box office hit, but sadly, failed to earn an Oscar nod for Best Pic.

Come this December we have Tim Burton's version of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd starring Captain Sparrow..um I mean Johnny Depp and Burton's real life girlfriend, Helena Bonham Carter in the leading roles.

As for future possibilities there is still talk of bringing Wicked to the screen as well as Elton John's Aida starring Beyonce.

This Friday, the movie version of the hit Broadway musical Hairspray hits the silver screen. A movie musical having its opening during the summer? This film will have to compete with pirates, transformers, gay firemen, Harry Potter, Spiderman, and The Simpsons for those precious movie dollars.

Hairspray is based on the 1988 cult-hit film by John Waters that starred Divine and future talk show hostess Ricki Lake.

In August 2002, the film was reborn as a Broadway musical starring Harvey Fierstein, where it would go on to sweep the Tony Awards and where it is still playing at the Neil Simon Theater, after 2048 performances.

Now comes the film version of the Broadway hit musical, which was based on a camp fest film by the naughty Waters. Confusing isn't it?

I have seen the film version so many times that I lost count. I was also able to see the entire original Broadway cast in the stage production, then a year later the national tour.

Director Adam Shankman has helmed such films as The Pacifier (starring Vin Diesel) and Bringing Down the House. He has served as choreographer on such films as Boogie Nights, The Wedding Planner, Catch Me If You Can and Scream 2. If you are a fan of the Addams Family movies, Shankman choreographed all the "Camp Chippewa" numbers in the second film.

So, what musical numbers have been cut out of the film version you ask? Four company numbers are completely gone: "The Madison", "Mama, I'm a Big Girl now", "Cooties", and "The Big Dollhouse".

Others have been edited and cut down, such as "It Takes Two" and "Big Blonde & Beautiful". Although the latter becomes a trio for Edna, Velma Von Tussle, and Motormouth Maybelle. In place of "It Takes Two" is a new number for Link titled "Girl's Choice". Other numbers also have added verses or deleted lyrics.

But what Shankman did with the musical numbers is a candy store of visual tasty bon-bons! From his sublime choreography, to the editing, photography, and costuming of the numbers -- they are all dazzling, eye-popping musical numbers. He succeeds (in overflowing abundance!) where Stroman failed with her Producers film.

Shankman looked outside the proscenium and confinements of the stage and took the musical out into the streets of 1962 Baltimore! I will not spoil any of the many amazing, artistically delightful, ravishing creations he has created for the musical numbers. Suffice to say there are many show-stopping numbers that fill the screen.

The music sounds even fresher and more toe-tappingly vibrant than the stage version, and that's because now it has richer, fuller orchestrations. The Original Film Soundtrack contains a massive orchestra overflowing with violins, violas, cellos, horns, etc. and a huge gospel choir to boot!

Casting wise the film does quite well, including some knock out performances.

Making her film debut Nikki Blonsky is like a sweet dish of cool strawberry cheesecake ice cream on a hot summer day. Her lovely cherub face displays a soothing, warm, & inviting pair of chocolate brown eyes that the camera loves. The young actress shows promising range as an actress, and delivers some loud laughs as the hefty girl who wants to dance on The Corny Collins Show. Her vocals are quite charming, thereby completing her smashing film debut performance.

While she does lack the firecracker pizzazz and comedic timing/delivery of the original Stage Tracy, Marissa Jaret Winokur, Ms. Blonsky nonetheless carries the film superbly and delivers a performance that will have America falling in love with her.

Another terrific performance is provided by Amanda Bynes as "Penny Pingleton", Tracy's best friend. Ms. Bynes has huge blue eyes that assist the actress in providing some hysterical facial expressions during her mishaps and adventures with Tracy. The girl has some festive comedic timing and delivery as well. To complete the package, Bynes has a terrific set of vocal pipes as well.

Zac Efron portrays "Link Larkin", the stud and heartthrob of The Corny Collins show. Efron goes for a slight homage to the young Elvis in his characterization. He is very, very pretty with hypnotic blue eyes, and he will indeed melt many girls' (and a few guys') hearts sitting in the dark movie theater. Efron is immensely enjoyable in the film. I just so wish they had kept in the film that duet "It Takes Two" that is so, so funny on stage with Tracy and Link.

Also providing some comedic highlights in the large cast include James Marsden as "Corny Collins", Jerry Stiller as Mr. Pinky (owner of Hefty's Hideaway), Elijah Kelley as "Seaweed", Christopher Walken as "Wilbur Turnblad", and Allison Janney as "Prudy Pingleton".

For the villains of the film, we have an evil mother & daughter team that comprises of Michelle Pfeiffer and Brittany Snow. Ms. Pfeiffer still looks gorgeous and sexy as hell as the owner of the TV station who does not believe in segregation. She wears some gorgeous costumes (complete with an array of glittery baubles) and has nasty, sexy fun with her solo, "Miss Baltimore Crabs". Alas the same cannot be said for Ms. Snow, who is the weak link in the film. She lacks the scene-stealing comedic talents that Laura Bell Bundy had with the role on Broadway. She seems to be stuck in "one look /one emotion" gear in her acting.

Queen Latifah provides a warm, motherly glow to her performance as "Motormouth Maybelle", the TV hostess of "Negro Day" on the Corny Collins Show. She does give the gospel-flavored song, "I Know Where I've Been" a layer of painful honesty that tugs at the heart.

Which leaves us John Travolta as "Edna Turnblad". I saw original Broadway star Harvey Fierstein not just chew the scenery, he devoured and gorged on it! He could take a simple line of dialogue and turn it into a side-splitting comedic gem. His facial expressions and that voice that sounds like gravel in a blender created one of the funniest, pee-in-your-pants performances to ever grace Broadway.

But when the national tour came through, the actor portraying "Edna" (John Pinette) was absolutely dreadful. He had not one inch of Fierstein's hilarious technique nor even the vocal pipes to do the role any justice. Thus when it was announced in the press that Travolta would wear the housedress belonging to Edna, my heart sank. Why not Fierstein? I mean the man won the Tony for the role!

After viewing Travolta's performance, I have two words for his work: Oscar nomination. I was completely caught off guard by his scene-stealing, hilarious performance. He gives "Edna" a true heart of a mom who loves her child, but has overtones of heartache and loneliness for being overweight, stuck doing laundry, and a husband whose obsessed with his job. The specialty make up looks natural, as does the voluptuous body frame that Travolta wears.

It does take a couple of scenes to get used to his authentic Baltimore accent, but he uses it to get some hilarious results with his comedic delivery. He is so wonderful in the role that you can't help but truly fall in love with Edna. At the packed to the gills sneak peek screening I attended, the audience applauded several times during Travolta (and Blonksy) in the big company number, "Welcome to the 60s". Director Shankman wisely also uses Travolta's background of dance experience in the film that will have you rolling in the aisles!

His performance here is a welcome relief and comeback after a line of god awful stink-a-roos like Battlefield Earth. I honestly think he deserves an Oscar nod for Best Supporting Actor. Travolta truly enshrines himself in Edna's heart, body, and soul, and you see it all on screen in his performance.

Also keep you eyes out for some wickedly delicious cameos! If you know Hairspray inside and out, then you will laugh out loud when these star cameos appear on the screen.

Hairspray the movie keeps a majority of the stage version, but what makes the film so enjoyable is how it goes beyond the stage lights and opens the story all over Baltimore.

Also the screenplay has been spruced up and littered with new lines and scenes that earn loud, resounding guffaws from the audience.

From the choreography & direction, to the costumes, to that truly fantastic score, and a platter full of exquisite performances, Hairspray the film is a feast for the music theater aficionados, and anyone who loves live theater.

So grab a can of Ultra Clutch hairspray, rat your hair real high, and get to the Cineplex to see Hairspray this weekend!

GRADE: A+

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• Sundance Square outdoor movie series starts June 12 in Fort Worth (June 8, 2008)
• Film notes: Golden Globe nominations and AFI Dallas millionaire benefactress (Dec. 15, 2007)
• Hairspray‘s Nikki Blonsky to sing with Turtle Creek Chorale (Dec. 14, 2007)

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• Arts > Fine Arts > Theater > The Column
• Arts > Movies / Film > Mainstream Movies

Comments

Michael Anderson Verified

Thanks for the detailed review! My wife grew up in Baltimore and we were already excited to see this, but now I can't wait to check it out!

1 year, 11 months ago ( Link to this comment | Suggest removal )