In 1962 Baltimore, overweight teenager Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) is obsessed with dancing on the Corny Collins TV show. When she finally gets selected, new obsessions arise: winning the show's Miss Hairspray contest and integrating the all-white program. The bright, bouncy, toe-tapping and infectious "Hairspray" is one of the best musicals in decades. Based on the Broadway musical, which was based on John Waters' 1988 movie, this delightful surprise is buoyed by spectacular dance numbers and a remarkable cast. John Travolta is simply divine as Tracy's mother Edna and Christopher Walken makes a terrific dance partner as Edna's husband, Wilbur. Michelle Pfeiffer is pure evil as TV executive Velma Von Tussle, whose daughter Amber (Brittany Snow) is Tracy's rival on the dance floor. James Marsden loses his X-Men image as Corny Collins and Zac Efron croons as teen idol Link Larkin. Queen Latifah sings up a storm as television hostess Motormouth Maybelle. Even John Waters makes an entrance in a revealing cameo. The songs, score and rousing performances could easily give "Hairspray" the same presence at awards time as the critically-acclaimed "Chicago". Nikki Blonsky has the energy, personality and marvelous voice to become a major star. Never considered mainstream, Mr. Waters has made a successful transition. Unlike many of the hairdos on display in the film, "Hairspray" is anything but stiff.