Hairspray DVD > Reviews > Hairspray without its original shimmer!

Author's product rating:   

Did you enjoy it?	Indifferent to it
Story	Good
Characters / Performances	Good
Special Effects	Good
How does it compare to similar films?	Good

Advantages:	Some good acting
Disadvantages:	Far inferior to the original

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

1988 saw the release of a film called Hairspray starring Divine, Ricki Lake (before the chat show fame), Sonny Bono and Deborah Harry amongst others. I have to confess that this is one of my favourite films and one that for me has stood the test of time, to the point where in my mind at least it has become a classic.

I was therefore rather sceptical when I learned that this film had been remade in 2007 and I was intrigued when I discovered that the role of Edna Turnblad, originally played by the US drag Queen, Divine was now played by John Travolta. I never had any intentions of rushing out to watch this new version but when I was given the chance to borrow it on DVD recently I gladly took up the offer.

Set in Baltimore in 1962 the story of the new version is similar to that of its predecessor but it quickly becomes apparent that this remake is much more of a musical. Of course there were songs in the original version but the original version that was directed by John Waters was much more of a comedy that was packed full of double entendres and slightly politically incorrect humour. This 1988 film inspired a Broadway and West End musical and it is this stage version that then in turn inspired this new 2007 version. So it seems that nearly two decades later Hairspray has come full circle.

The story revolves around a high school girl called Tracy. She is the daughter of Edna and Wilbur Turnbad in the days when the girls are wearing their hair high and their skirts short. Baltimore is still a relatively small city, off the beaten track and the local TV station is the main form of entertainment in the town. In particular one show called The Corney Collins Show features a mixture of singing and dancing and Tracy longs for a starring role in the show.

Following auditions with her best friend, Penny Pingleton Tracy wins the admiration of many people on the show and is given a part where she quickly becomes very popular. Unlike the other cast however Tracy is not a slim girl, she is quite big but her bubbly personality shines through. However she quickly becomes despised by fellow dancer, Velma Von Tussle who seems jealous of the new girl's popularity and also has high ambitions for her own daughter. Amber Von Tussle is quickly revealed as a bitchy, scheming character that flirts with the TV station manager, Arvin Hodgepile and it seems that she will do nothing to get her own way, and her own daughter, Amber on the stage.

All of this is set against the backdrop of a racially segregated America in the late 1950's and early 60's and Tracy cannot understand why she cannot dance with the black dancers that have their own shows, which include names like "Negro Day". These frustrations eventually lead to Tracy becoming an outspoken advocate for equality in Baltimore.

There is no denying that this is a feel good film that is packed full of good catchy songs and characters that you will either love or loathe. The opening song "Good Morning Baltimore" that Tracy belts out whilst skipping carefree down the sidewalk in the opening scene sets the tone. For me to criticise it therefore might seem to be unfair but I just couldn't help thinking about the original version all of the way through and all of the missing one line "put me downs" that have now been removed from the script.

The character of Edna Turnblad was created for Divine who played it to perfection in 1988 just shortly before his premature death and he also played the despicable TV station manager, Arvin Hodgepile in a dual role. Divine and John Waters, the producer of the original film were childhood school friends in Baltimore and many of the events portrayed in Hairspray are based on real life situations that they encountered including their interpretation of the Corney Collins Show which was based on Baltimore TV's The Buddy Deane Show. It is little wonder therefore that Edna Turnblad was captured by Divine in a way that John Travolta could never come close to matching no matter how much make up and TV trickery be used. It is obvious to me why the importance of this character second time around has been reduced somewhat but what I don't understand is why they chose Travolta (assumingly he came at a huge price) or indeed why they chose a man at all to play the part this time around at all. That said John Travolta is not bad but there are more than a few moments that made me cringe.

The highlights of the film are some of the songs that are often camped up and delivered in a humorous way but there is also a fair bit of good acting too, not least from Nikki Blonsky who plays Tracy in her first major starring role. I especially like the character of Velma Von Tussle originally played by Deborah Harry but now by Michelle Pfeiffer, both manage to bring out the evilness of this character that makes you instantly despise her so that you are constantly waiting for her to get her comeuppance, and like all good films with morals she certainly does.

The main cast include:

Tracy Turnblad - Nikki Blonsky
Edna Turnblad - John Travolta
Wilbur Turnblad - Christopher Walken
Corney Collins - James Marsden
Penny Pingleton - Amanda Bynes
Velma Von Tussle - Michelle Pfieffer
Amber Von Tussle - Brittany Snow

I didn't get chance to watch any of the DVD extras so this is a film only review but I am now off to try and hunt down a copy of the original version, which in my opinion is far superior to this one. I can however see this film appealing to the masses for its big names amongst the cast.

Year of release - 2007
Certification - PG
Running time - 117 minutes