Opened: July 20, 2007
Directed by: Adam Shankman
Starring: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken, Queen Latifah, James Marsden, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney, Paul Dooley, Jayne Eastwood, Jerry Stiller, Taylor Parks, Curtis Holbrook, Phillip Spaeth, J.P. Ferreri, Spencer Liff, Nadine Ellis, Arike Rice, Tanee McCall, Stephen Boss, Ricki Lake, Adam Shankman, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman & John Waters
By staying true to the stage musical and incorporating fun tunes and faces alongside heavier themes of racism, Hairspray is one of – if not the – best Broadway adaptations of the 2000s.
Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) dreams of dancing on The Corny Collins Show. And when she gets her chance, she uses her platform to speak about integration despite the station’s insistence on segregation and a separate “Negro Day.”
Perfectly cast, this movie is filled with veteran actors like Queen Latifah and Michelle Pfeiffer while also shining a light on relative newcomers like Blonsky, Zac Efron and Brittany Snow. But no one can top John Travolta’s performance as Tracy’s mom Edna, which keeps true to the Broadway casting of a male in the role.
I dare you not dance to this fantastic soundtrack.
Final say: Welcome to the ‘60s! ★★★★★
