Out on DVD - Hairspray

Rated PG

As a long-time fan of musicals, as well as an even longer-time fan of John Waters, there was no way to go wrong with this one.

Based on the Broadway musical, which was in turn based on the 1988 non-musical movie of the same name, Hairspray had some big shoes to fill. With an all-star cast, beautiful visuals and music, and the it-never-gets-old shock of seeing John Travolta in drag, this movie nearly overshadows its predecessors.

Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), is a slighty overweight and undertall teenager who loves the Corny Collins Show and the dances she learns from the peppy program. When Tracy gets an opportunity to audition for the show, she gets a harsh lesson about being different. However, with the help of her black friend Seaweed, Tracy makes it on the show by dancing for Corny Collins (Scott Marsden) himself, and catches the eye of the slick singer Link Larkin (Zac Efron). This puts a thorn in the dancing shoes of the show’s prima donna, Amber Von Tussel (Brittany Snow), and her mother, the show’s white’s-only manager, Velma Von Tussel (Michelle Pfeiffer). Not satisfied to be in the limelight if her black friends aren’t allowed to be there too, Tracy sets out to integrate the show while the Von Tussels set out to ruin Tracy.

The makers of this new incarnation have rounded out a lot of the kooky edges of Waters’ original, which will disappoint some fans, but there are enough quirky moments that it hasn’t completely lost its original charm. The improvement comes with the brilliant music and dancing, and will please the musical lovers to no end. Most importantly the message is clear and frank, leaving you with more than just songs running through your head.