Hairspray: hit or flop?- Page 2

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 6:54am

I'll ask: why would anyone be creeped out by Travolta playing this part? From what I've seen, he looks like he's having a blast, and it's not like drag wasnt part of the John Waters Approach to Filmmaking. Are we that insecure that we cant accept someone who generally plays the semi-tough, semi-cool guy suddenly putting on a fat suit and a dress?

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 8:28am

i'd post a picture in this thread, sean, but then i'd have to delete it since travolta in full make-up creeps me out to no end. oh, and he creeps me out in this role too.

i think it will do larger numbers than producers (easy assumption) but nowhere near chicago. i'd put it more in the flop category if i had to choose one.

[Love4Cheno]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 9:48am

Travolta is creepy, but so is Zac Effron.

Why does he apply 6 inches of makeup/bronzer before leaving the house? He also kinda just looks like a girl.

I think it'll be a moderate hit.

Updated On: 7/11/07 at 09:48 AM

[madbrian]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 10:03am

For me, this is a tough one to call. Could it find a summer audience and take off like Grease did? Or will it fail to find a toehold among the summer blockbusters and fade away? Of course, there is a wide gap between those extremes, but to me the latter seems more likely than the former, unfortunately.

[DBillyP]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 10:21am

After seeing it last night, I say BIG hit. I am a fan of the stage version, and I loved it. The friend that went with me is a fan of the original film and has never seen it on stage, and he loved it.

[Luscious]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 10:23am

I think it has the potential to be the most successful movie musical (box-office wise) since GREASE. The reviews will be mixed, but I'd bet it's going to make more money than the last five Broadway-to-movie musicals combined.

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 10:25am

it's a little early in the morning to be drunk isn't it?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 11:42am

Biggest since GREASE will be difficult...but I think that HAIRSPRAY will be a critical success. There are already a couple strong reviews out there, namely a rave from Variety.

[CostumeMistress]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 11:51am

Are we that insecure that we cant accept someone who generally plays the semi-tough, semi-cool guy suddenly putting on a fat suit and a dress?

No, we're just painfully aware of how obvious the fat suit is, and how much the character of Edna Turnblad doesn't look like a real person, but like a man buried under silicone. The costume is so distracting, you never get to really see "Edna."

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 11:58am

^ agreed.

[SorryGrateful]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 5:20pm

This doesn't really answer the topic's questions, but Zac Efron is freaky looking! He always looks so hideously fake. I don't mean personality wise. I mean that he doesn't look like a real person, rather a wax statue. The kid is creepy.

[ComaBaby01]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 5:43pm

^ Totally agree. I don't see the allure at all.

[JohnPopa]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 5:47pm

20 million domestic box office.

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 7/11/07 at 7:22pm

I predict around 100 million and I hope and pray it does a lot more !!!

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 6:54am

>> No, we're just painfully aware of how obvious the fat suit is, and how much the character of Edna Turnblad doesn't look like a real person, but like a man buried under silicone. The costume is so distracting, you never get to really see "Edna."

Sorry, I disagree. You're aware of it because of the fact that it's been mentioned so many times, but IMHO the makeup job is actually pretty decent (God knows, it's better than Divine's, if you want to talk about distractingly obvious). And I repeat: Travolta looks like he's having a blast. Why not leave it at that and enjoy the performance?

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 6:58am

'cause he's creepy and i cannot imagine watching that for two hours. ick.

[Craww]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 7:28am

It has nothing to do with Travolta himself. It's the character design, and the way it didn't work with his features. He just looks wrong. When you see a face that looks slightly off, and pair it with facial expressions of INSANE GLEE, it's gonna be creepy. I'm not trying to judge it because of Travolta, I would like to see the movie, it's just a literally visceral reaction of unease and slight disgust.

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 8:40am

I predict $120 million, domestic.

[Mamie]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:08am

As far as I'm concerned it's going to be a major flop - at least if it doesn't play at more theatres. I live in Northern Virginia and there are absolutely NO theatres anywhere around me that will be showing it. The closest Virginia theater is in Manassas (down in horse country). The closest anywhere is in the middle of Washington DC. That's just ridiculous!

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 9:30am

$68 million, domestic.

[withoutlovewithoutU]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 10:38am

A lot of my non theater friends are more excited for Hairspray then they are for The Simpsons Movie.
I think it will be a hit.
And yes Travolta looks like a cabbage patch doll, but I'm gonna wait and judge his performance when I see the movie.

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:45am

>> When you see a face that looks slightly off, and pair it with facial expressions of INSANE GLEE, it's gonna be creepy.

Like Divine?

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/12/07 at 11:49am

Mamie, where were you able to find out where Hairspray will be playing in Virginia? Does anyone how many theater's it's being released in?

[RobbO]

Posted: 7/16/07 at 10:30am

i've seen exactly two trailers for this movie and interestingly neither of 'em feature travola, at all. odd, no, considering he's the films biggest star?

[SeanMartin]

Posted: 7/16/07 at 10:42am

There is a trailer that's all Travolta. It's pretty kewl.