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Movies / On DVD / Hairspray
Hairspray

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Hairspray (2007)

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Reviews Counted:203

Fresh:184

Rotten:19

Average Rating:7.7/10

Consensus: Hairspray is an energetic, wholly entertaining musical romp; a fun Summer movie with plenty of heart. Its contagious songs will make you want to get up and start dancing.

Rated: PG [See Full Rating] for language, some suggestive content and momentary teen smoking.

Runtime: 1 hr 57 mins

Genre: Musical & Performing Arts

Theatrical Release:Jul 20, 2007 Wide

Box Office: $118,823,091

Synopsis: Originally written and directed by filmmaker John Waters in 1988, and then put on Broadway, the camp musical HAIRSPRAY could easily have run its course with viewers. But thanks to playful... Originally written and directed by filmmaker John Waters in 1988, and then put on Broadway, the camp musical HAIRSPRAY could easily have run its course with viewers. But thanks to playful direction, flashy costumes, over-the-top performances, and a positive message of peace, this newest spin proves to be yet another enjoyable incarnation. Set in 1960s Baltimore, the story follows a plump young girl named Tracy Turnblad (played by impressive newcomer Nikki Blonski) on an amazing journey as her dream of dancing on the popular Corny Collins Show becomes a reality. The local television program is a shiny spectacle spear-headed by Corny Collins (James Marsden), a gang of young dancers, and producer Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer), a seductress ice queen whose manipulative ways ensure her daughter Amber (Brittany Snow) gets more than her fair share of screen time as one of the show's stars. When Tracy shows up at an open call, Velma can barely contain her rage, and sets out to rid the show of Tracy and the talented black dancers who make up the show's popular "Negro Day." Thus begins a war of talent and a battle for justice, with those in favor of integration meeting many obstacles along the way. While less out-there than Waters's original, the film still contains some very quirky humor. John Travolta playing Tracy's overweight mother may seem an odd concept at first, but in this context it works. Scenes that would ordinarily be cheesy are made more interesting due to the odd dynamic between Christopher Walken and John Travolta playing man and wife. As the two dance and woo one another, the strange smile on Travolta's lipsticked lips and the grace of Walken's dancing will be sure to fascinate viewers. Viewers should also watch for cameos by Ricki Lake, and by John Waters as a Baltimore streaker. With all the wacky comedy, it's often easy to forget that the meat of HAIRSPRAY is a battle over racial integration. The film manages to create some touching moments in the midst of sparkling musical numbers. [More]

Starring: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah

Starring: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah, Amanda Bynes, Christopher Walken, James Marsden, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Brittany Snow, Allison Janney, Paul Dooley, Jerry Stiller

Director: Adam Shankman

Director: Adam Shankman
Screenwriter: Leslie Dixon, Mark O'Donnell
Producer: Neil Meron, Craig Zadan
Composer: Marc Shaiman
Studio: New Line Cinema

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Release:

Jan 19, 2010

[DVD Details]
 
 

DVD Features:

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Reviews for Hairspray

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1 - 20 (sorted by date)
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Much of the fun comes from director-choreographer Adam Shankman's happy acceptance of musical staples

Full Review Source: CinePassion | comment Comment
08/27/09
Fernando F. Croce
Fernando F. Croce
CinePassion

Shankman's crassly theatrical attenuation of Hairspray only draws gay culture away from a moment of American history with which it ought to have a great deal in common

Full Review Source: Reverse Shot | comment Comment
08/08/09
Leo Goldsmith
Leo Goldsmith
Reverse Shot

It falls to individual efforts by the cast to keep the eye and ear coming back for more.

Full Review Source: JWR | comment Comment
07/23/09
S. James Wegg
S. James Wegg
JWR

Hairspray is an energetic romp, but as a social statement -- which it pretends to be -- it's cartoonish. And as a playful look back at a time and place, it's simplistic shtik. It's a mountain of whipped cream, with an occasional chocolate sprinkle.

Full Review Source: Fayetteville Free Weekly | comment 1 Comment
02/02/09
Tony Macklin
Tony Macklin
Fayetteville Free Weekly
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: NPR.org | comment Comment
10/18/08
Bob Mondello
Bob Mondello
NPR.org

I will confess that Travolta totally turned me around. A mountain of a woman in his female fat suit, he commits 150% to the role.

Full Review Source: ReelzChannel.com | comment Comment
08/23/08
Heather Huntington
Heather Huntington
ReelzChannel.com

The most refreshing and enjoyable musical of this century%u2014Hairspray.

Full Review Source: Paste Magazine | comment 1 Comment
07/22/08
Tim Basham
Tim Basham
Paste Magazine

Even if the new Hairspray seems a welcome return to camp for Travolta, his mock seriousness is as frozen as ever.

Full Review Source: Bright Lights Film Journal | comment Comment
07/10/08
Matthew Sorrento
Matthew Sorrento
Bright Lights Film Journal

The film works best for me when they are making fun of the racial climate of the 1960s.

Full Review Source: The Scorecard Review | comment Comment
03/03/08
Jeff Bayer
Jeff Bayer
The Scorecard Review

An amazing cast sings and dances across the screen with such flair and passion its completely infectious.

Full Review Source: Oscar Guy | comment Comment
02/02/08
Wesley Lovell
Wesley Lovell
Oscar Guy

Caso tivesse 20 minutos e alguns números musicais a menos, Hairspray poderia ser uma surpresa tão divertida quanto o original (que tampouco é um clássico). Inchado como ficou, porém, é apenas um passatempo pouco memorável.

Full Review Source: Cinema em Cena | comment Comment
01/16/08
Pablo Villaca
Pablo Villaca
Cinema em Cena

Like your high school's production of "Grease": A musical about sex with a chastity belt strapped to its waist.

Full Review Source: Film Snobs | comment Comment
12/11/07
Stephen Himes
Stephen Himes
Film Snobs

One's enjoyment of Adam Shankman's motion picture will largely depend on one's tolerance for conflict-less, feel good musicals.

Full Review Source: Bangitout.com | comment Comment
12/06/07
Jordan Hiller
Jordan Hiller
Bangitout.com

Some magical balance between the cast members, the set design, the songs and director Adam Shankman makes it work.

Full Review Source: Combustible Celluloid | comment Comment
12/06/07
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Jeffrey M. Anderson
Combustible Celluloid

Though colorful, cheery and energetic, there's something missing from this song-and-dance routine.

Full Review Source: Lessons of Darkness | comment Comment
11/30/07
Nick Schager
Nick Schager
Lessons of Darkness

Travolta as bosomy mom Edna in perky fat suit, with flab-infatuated spouse Walken never far behind, pretty much steals the show from everybody else as he impressively shakes his bountiful booty across the dance floor.

Full Review Source: NewsBlaze | comment Comment
11/26/07
Prairie Miller
Prairie Miller
NewsBlaze

On almost every level, Hairspray surpasses expectations and is probably one of the best studio musicals to come out in years.

Full Review Source: DVD Review | comment Comment
11/19/07
Felix Gonzalez Jr.
Felix Gonzalez Jr.
DVD Review

...how can you not like a movie in which John Travolta and Christopher Walken sing a love song to each other? And you believe it!

Full Review Source: DVDTown.com | comment Comment
11/07/07
John J. Puccio
John J. Puccio
DVDTown.com

Infectiously fun musical with a message.

Full Review Source: Common Sense Media | comment Comment
10/31/07
Sandie Angulo Chen
Sandie Angulo Chen
Common Sense Media

The main point of a movie musical is the song and dance, and that's where the relentlessly happy "Hairspray" packs a knockout punch.

Full Review Source: Spectrum (St. George, Utah) | comment Comment
10/22/07
Bruce Bennett
Bruce Bennett
Spectrum (St. George, Utah)
 
 
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Latest News for Hairspray

December 08, 2009: Nikki Blonsky Talks Hairspray 2 Opens in new window
The "Hairspray" sequel is slated for next year, and if you take Nikki Blonsky's word at face value, it'll be just as much fun as the first installment. More...

October 20, 2009: Adam Shankman Leans on the Rock of Ages Opens in new window
"Hairspray" director Adam Shankman has agreed to direct and choreograph a film adaptation of the Broadway musical "Rock of Ages" for New Line. More...

January 06, 2009: Hairspray 2 to Feature Diet Pills, New Villains Opens in new window
Remember all those nutty "Hairspray 2" details shared by Marc Shaiman a couple of weeks ago? Well, according to director Adam Shankman, they're all true -- although he seems... More...

July 25, 2008: Weekly Ketchup: Anchorman 2, Dracula: Year Zero, Twilight Zone and Much More
In this week's Weekly Ketchup we've got the latest on plenty of remakes and sequels coming your way. Plus, check back Monday for an extra special edition of the Ketchup, in... More...

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