Hairspray

Directed by: Adam Shankman
Starring: Nikki Blonsky, John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley
Running Time: 1h 57min

John Water's original B-movie of the same name, which then spawned a surprise Broadway hit musical, which then spawned this A-list cast film, was a sweet treat of Baltimore 50s nostaligia, packed with a powerful message. The heart of the movie was the fight against racism, with the window dressing of smooth dances and smoother hairstyles.

This update shifts that focus from fighting racism, to an increased emphasis on the dance numbers, seeing as its more an adaptation of the stage show than a remake of the original source material. This results in some positives and negatives. The negative being a movie that pushes the plot aside at times, so the kids can just dance and sing. The positives are that the dance numbers really do pop and sizzle, in a way the original film hinted at, but never had the production dollars to put over the top.

The Hollywood players really have a great time camping in their roles, and its great to see the performances that come out of Travolta, Pfeiffer, and Walken. Very humerous, and in the spirit of Water's ouevre. Still, the real standout in this version is the crop of young talent in the roles of the students. It's no wonder that Disney's High School Musical is such an overwhelming success, with talent in spades. Blonsky's fairy tale casting story is well documented and turns out to be a great call, but the real stars are Efron and Kelley, who seem to be destined for big success.

If there's anything Waters' can claim from his body of work, it's finding magic in small packages, and making the most of his ideas. His subversive films were done in his unimitable Baltimore bred style, with a lot of love for his characters, flaws and all. The new Hairspray polishes up the flaws, makes it sparkle and shine, yet loses a little heart and soul in all the glamour. Still, it's probably the most fun you can have in the theatre in a long time, and you'll certainly be singing a song or two on your way home.

Grade: B+