Hairspray (2007)

Set in 1962 Baltimore, a heavyset teenager (Nikki Blonsky) doesn't let her weight get in the way of auditioning for the local bandstand TV dance show. When she gets on the show, her popularity soars but her commitment to getting the segregated show integrated gets her into hot water. Based on the Tony award winning Broadway musical which in turn was based on the 1988 John Waters film and choreographed and directed by Adam Shankman. Although perhaps not technically a musical (no one sang), the 1988 film had enough dance sequences to qualify so a Broadway musical version seemed an inevitability. I don't think it's fair to compare it to the 1988 film. To transition to a full blown musical, a lot of changes have to be made. Nobody compares the 1946 ANNA AND THE KING OF SIAM to the 1956 Rodgers & Hammerstein musical (nor should they), so why compare the 1988 and 2007 films? The songs are tuneful, the choreography lively and the cast energetic. As the mother, John Travolta won't erase memories of the divine Divine but he does an ace job as the agoraphobic Edna. Musical highlights include the bouncy Welcome To The 60s, Queen Latifah's anthem I Know Where I've Been and the rousing You Can't Stop The Beat. A pure delight. With Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, James Marsden, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, Allison Janney, Elijah Kelly, Paul Dooley, Brittany Snow Jerry Stiller and Ricki Lake.