Mini Review of "Hairspray"

[urbpan]

Writer John Waters, with his clever social critiques and outrageous plot details, deserves a better director than John Waters. His fun and campy celebrity casting (Sonny Bono, Debbie Harry, Pia Zadora etc.) is often undermined by awkward pacing and clumsy line-readings. One suspects that after the hours of make-up and costume that the players had to endure, that the director let them get away with too few takes. Hairspray is somehow a better film than the very similar Crybaby, but not quite as fun. The funniest thing is that for all of Waters' reputation for tastelessness, Hairspray is thoroughly good natured and (dare I say it) politically correct. It is great to see a heavy girl as the star of a movie (allowed to be a sexy romantic lead, even!) without that movie humiliating her or forcing her to "confront her weight" in some redemptive ending. (Alas, that's what happened to Ricki Lake in real life.) With its impressive costumes and make-up, and its reliance on music, dance, and nostalgia, it was an absolute natural to become a Broadway musical.

(This reviewer's stepdaughter insists that he mention the roach gown. Okay, it was pretty cool! I also liked Divine playing a male character in addition to his usual drag matriarch.)

Comments

[anais2.livejournal.com]

I love me some John Waters! Still have the Scratch and Sniff card from the original outing of "Polyester", woohoo!

[messy-wreck.livejournal.com]

You have an original Smell-O-Vision card...

I'm sooooo jealous!

[anais2.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's what it's called! I wonder if it will ever be a collector item?

[messy-wreck.livejournal.com]

I just checked ebay and came up blank.

Sure is cool though.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

Apparently they also made Odorama cards for the DVD release. I have to imagine that the original cards must be worth something. They must have printed only a few thousand.

[urbpan.livejournal.com]

He spoke at my school while I was there, and he was great. He just told stories and had everyone in the palm of his hand. I've read a couple of his books, and they are really fun, too.

I think now that the outrageousness of the entertainment world has caught up with him, his films have less impact. Without the shock factor, they just seem like amateurish camp. They are full of great ideas, but he doesn't treat them with the respect they deserve (by getting good performances out of his actors).

[cottonmanifesto.livejournal.com]

That is so funny that Bec was so affected by the roach gown!!

You're a better man than I am, Gunga Din

[brush-rat.livejournal.com]

I couldn't get past the first twenty minutes of hairspray. It might have something to do with seeing it on motel room cable and sleep being a more attractive option. I may give it a better chance based on your review. That and my niece's roach gown fascination.

[queenc2346.livejournal.com]

I enjoy Hairspray. Not my favorite of all time or anything, but it's fun :).

And I hearted Rickie Lake so much in it! I thought she was wicked!

-Carrie.