MEOW!
{NOTE: First of all, The Dark Knight Rises. Secondly, I have not seen the 1988 original directed by John Waters, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.}
Is it charm? Is it poise? Is it Superman? Nope, IT'S HAIRSPRAY!
Nostalgic Insights: July 20th, 2007: the day I was introduced to Hairspray in general. I should've hated this film. It was at a time when I wasn't into movie musicals as much as my parents. Plus, Zac Efron? REALLY? Whatever, I guess I'll give it a chance anyways.
Oh...what a glorious feeling I had after walking out of that theater. The sun was out, a smile was on my face, and a dance was certainly in my step. Only I couldn't dance too much because it would've been, as Cole Porter would say, too...darn...HOT! But I swear to the almighty Frisky cat, if it were cooler outside, I would've danced all day long. Hairspray was something else--a film that worked as a hilarious, good-natured comedy, a powerful social commentary on equality, and an unapologetic, honest-to-goodness movie musical with tunes that would infect the earlobes for years to come. And *GASP!* Zac Efron was...actually...GREAT in this?
So, does Hairspray still have a dance in its step, or have I finally stopped the beat when praising this film?
Critical Insights: Nearly six years later, and I still can't stop that BRILLIANT beat! Hairspray is a slice of movie musical heaven and more--infectious tunes written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, exhilarating and intelligent choreography/direction by Adam Shankman, a hilarious and insightful script written by Leslie Dixon, Mark O' Donnell, and Thomas Meehan, and quite possibly one of the greatest ensemble casts ever involved in a major motion picture event. Am I missing something? Oh yeah, IT'S. SO. GOOD.
There is a downside to writing this review, however: you have to give a detailed explanation on each aspect that you love about a film like Hairspray. There are so many good things to write about this film that it can cause a little thing called "writer's block." I mean, "writer's block" happens to me all the time when I'm writing a review, but this is just absurdly ridonk-ulous. But I'll do my best anyways. For the goats. Speaking of which: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PpccpglnNf0 Might have to copy and paste it.
The tunes, written by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, are incredible, infectious, joyous--they're incredibly, infectiously enjoyable! Good lord! Right off the bat, the film starts off with a number called "Good Morning Baltimore," and if you don't crack a smile at least once during that song, then I feel sorry for you. I genuinely, honestly feel sorry for you. For those who are still into it, the joy doesn't stop there. There are songs such as "The Nicest Kids in Town," "Ladies' Choice (a new tune written for the film)," "Run and Tell That," "Without Love," "You Can't Stop the Beat," and "Come So Far (Got So Far to Go--also written for the film)" that will give you an energy high for hours! Then there's a song titled "I Know Where I've Been," which represents the overall thematic element of this story. I can't stress how much beauty and profound truth this song contains. Just look at these lyrics right after the colon:
There's a cry in the distance
It's a voice that comes from deep within
There's a cry askin' why
I pray the answer's up ahead
'Cause I know where I've Been
There's a road we've been travelin'
Lost so many on the way
But the riches will be plenty
Worth the price
The price we had to pay
There's a dream in the future
There's a struggle that we have yet to win
And there's pride in my heart
'Cause I know where I'm goin'
Yes I do
'Cause I know where I've been
There's a road...
OK, you get the jist. It's just one of the most beautiful songs ever written, that's all. Movin' on.
Adam Shankman does a great job translating a stage musical like Hairspray into a motion picture. Unlike Dreamgirls, where you could feel that it's a modern-day movie musical despite being set in the '60s-'70s, the shots in this film have the feel of a movie musical created in 1962, especially when there are scenes that take place during rehearsals of The Corny Collins Show. The choreography is exceptional; it's some of the best choreography ever captured on film. I also feel sorry for you if you don't tap your toes at least once during this film, or at least during "You Can't Stop the Beat." Just try not to. I dare ya.
The screenplay, adapted from the 2002 stage musical of the 1988 original, is hilarious and insightful. Lines such as "I'm very pleased and scared to be here," "DEVIL CHILD! DEVIL CHILD!," and "This is so TURBO, er sorry, AFRO-TASTIC!" will give you a giddy giggle (giggity), while lines such as "Ma, it's changing out there. You'll like it. People who are different, their time is coming!" will give you a healthy dose of inspiration. There are also changes that were made in order for the theme to become more precise, such as who the winner of the "Miss Teenage Hairspray" Pageant is. I won't give away who wins, but it was a smart move on the writers.
But the film's greatest asset of all is its dream of an ensemble cast. I mean, my god, every single one of them gives superlative performances: John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken (WHAT?!), James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelly, Amanda Bynes, Allison Janney (THE TANK IS CLEAN), and Nikki Blonsky, who is the smilin' heart and soul of this picture as Tracy Edna Turnblad. Not one person of this ensemble gets shafted; all of them get their moment to shine, which also enhances the strong-hearted messages of equality, happiness and hope. What an AFRO-TASTIC ensemble this is--one of the greatest ensemble casts that have ever been involved in a major motion picture!
Not only does Hairspray one-hundred percent work as a feel-good movie musical; this just works a film, period. I honestly think Hairspray is as good as something like Chicago, Dreamgirls and Evita, and it's another mystery as to why the Academy of Motion Pictures & Sciences shafted this film in every category that year. HOW NUTS! Now, have I honestly seen better movie musical than this film? Believe it or not, yes I have, and you will read about them later this month (it will not be a certain trilogy of films that I'm reviewing after this). But even then, Hairspray is an exhilarating, joyous, and wonderful league on its own. Out of five whoopee cushions, I give Hairspray a perfect...
Until next time,
THE HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL TRILOGY!
...oh boy...this could be the start of something new...
and MEOW, of course!
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