Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!
Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!
Swing Joined: 10/21/06
Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#1
Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:55pm
I saw the movie and thought it was cute, but I don't get all the fuss.
When I saw the original Broadway cast, I really felt the fireworks and magic that the show can truly be. I don't understand why every critic's review I've read is so gaga about this movie. It was fun, but just didn't grab me like the Broadway show did. Plus, I felt there were some flaws in the film's interpretation of the musical's story. Is it just me???
And please note - I'm not trying to bash the movie in any way. Honestly, I was just somewhat disappointed. I think News Week pushed me over the edge when it said the movie was better than the Broadway show. I just don't agree with that at all.
My gripes:
1. they cut great songs to add so-so new ones.
2. the editing is disjointed in parts..ie, Wilbur gets 20 people out of jail..what people, what jail???
3. Tracy runs from the police...why not take a stand?? She's heroin not a coward! Big mistake for me. Seems to go against what we believe Tracy's character to be.
4. Way too much attention on the adults takes the focus off Tracy.
5. Letting little Inez win, again takes the focus off Tracy.
6. Why the straight hair at the end??? Bizarre!
7. Amanda Bynes...not so funny. Over the top.
8. Travolta way to distracting, dont' get it at all.
9. Do we really need 4 shots of the director (as the agent) at the end. I get that he's sitting next to Ricky Lake, but please.
10. so much focus on dancing that he missed some of the nuanced comedy of the show...for example, "Run and tell that" had great comedy in the show...not so much here.
11. The hairstyles were way too tame and where was the CAMPY-NESS?!
12. When you can basically do anything you want in a film, there really are no limits (and this was not a low budet movie) why wouldn't you get more creative and elaborate in the story telling? Especially in "I Can Hear the Bells"...it was so much more creative on stage...?
LAST. And most importantly, I felt NO connection btwn Link and Tracy...they were barely even together! I just wasn't buying the love story in this one.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#2
Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:23pmI don't get it either.
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Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#2
Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:47pm
Movie critics are just that, MOVIE critics. They review movies, not broadway musicals. When they write their reviews, they are focusing on the movie, not the musical. You have to look at the movie for what it is and block out your opinion of the stage musical.
Movies have a hard time producing those "fireworks" you speak of because the movie is two-dimensional. It's much easier to spark fireworks when you have an entire cast bringing down the house directly in front of you.
It's not fair to compare the musical directly with the movie. For me, Harvey will always be Edna. That's not to say I didn't enjoy John Travolta. He took the character and made it his own. Broadway actors do the same. Everytime there's a new Elphba, she has the same lines, but the character's personality is different in some way.
For a movie BASED upon a musical, I thought it was pretty damn good. If you keep comparing the movie to the musical, and say the directors should have done this or could have done that, you'll never like anything.
I saw the movie at a theatre in Kentucky where much of the audience will probably never get the chance to see the broadway version. This audience was into each song, clapping and singing along. I even saw groups of people staying through the credits because they just didn't want to leave. I haven't seen that in a movie theatre for a long time.
The movie critics love Hairspray the movie because it's a good movie and a damn good time. The theatre critics love Hairspray the musical for just the same reasons.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#3
Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:51pmMarc Shaiman answered a lot of your questions on the main board.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#4
Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:55pmwhat is this "main board" you speak of ljay?
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#5
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:19amBecause is the best movie of the year!
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#6
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:22amPlease! *eyeroll*
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#7
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:26am
Actually muscle, if you go on strictly reviews, it's not the best movie of the year.
I don't get the raves, but whatever.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#8
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:28amI have come to learn that muscle has dubious taste. Jessica Simpson, anyone?
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#9
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:31amHe's entitled to his oppinions SM.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#10
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:31am
The best movie of the year? Come on...
I don't get the raves either, my theory is that because it ends in such a high and exciting note the critics forget what happened in the hour and 40 minutes before the ending.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#11
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:35amMr. Muscle is correct! It is the best movie of the year!
Swing Joined: 10/21/06
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#12
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:40am
TVboy, I understand what you're saying, but I do think you can compare the movie to the musical because it's an adaptation. It's like saying you can't compare "The Da Vinci Code" to the book. Of course you can. If it weren't for the book the movie wouldn't exist.
More importanly, i do think that movie remakes of stage shows can capture the original magic. In my opinion "Dream Girls" and "Chicago" both did it!
Stand-by Joined: 12/1/03
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#13
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:48am
I certainly don't get it.
And I have to argue that it is NOT a good movie either. There are narrative mis-steps, bad performances, and some poor direction. So even if the critics are just reacting to the film - and not the musical - I still think they are somewhat misguided.
Also, if the critics are just "reveiwing the film," then why do so many of them reference - and even criticize - the Broadway production?
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#14
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:49am
If that's the case Pasadenaguy, then why aren't we comparing the musical and the new movie to the original movie? If it weren't for the original movie, the musical wouldn't exist. See my point? Each production is different in its own right.
I think what we have here are a bunch of people who were hoping for an exact duplication of the musical onto film. Many had their minds made up long before they even saw the film that they weren't going to like it. I've even heard from a few people via PMs who said they enjoyed the movie but are afraid to admit it here since this is a "theatre message board."
Even "The Da Vinci Code" wasn't an exact duplication of the book. Things were changed to make more sense on film.
I have to wonder, if they stage musical didn't exist and this new movie was "original," how many of you would be raving about it?
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#15
Posted: 7/24/07 at 12:55amI wouldn't be raving about it if there was a stage version or not. It wasn't bad, just underwhelming.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#16
Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:05amThe best thing I heard was that Travolta looked like something from the Jim Henson creature shop. That one had me laughing.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#17
Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:18am
"I've even heard from a few people via PMs who said they enjoyed the movie but are afraid to admit it here since this is a 'theatre message board.'"
WTF? If you hadn't noticed, we, the dissenters, are in the minority here. The entire main board is a lovefest regarding this movie. Why would they be afraid to admit their love?
tazber 
Vita, dulcedo, et spes nostra
Salve, Salve Regina
Ad te clamamus exsules filii Eva
Ad te suspiramus, gementes et flentes
O clemens O pia
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#18
Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:21am
Ok, props to SM for the Jim Henson comment.
I heard they are renaming the main board the Hairspray/Xanadu board btw.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#19
Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:24amWhere does this main board contempt come from, tazber?
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#20
Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:42am
There are a lot of threads that have a lot of negative responses to the film, I just want to say that Im sorry that you guys couldn't "get" it, I was touched like I haven't been in a long time, the music made me and my friend move our feet through the entire movie, I actually found myself in tears, I think we all can relate to Tracy.
It was a magic film for me, everyone is entitled to express their opinions though, Im also very open about what shows/movies I dislike, so why would I mind the negative comments?
just want to say why I LOVED it. There I said it.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#21
Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:44am
StageManager2, I can't speak for the six people who PM'd me, but I'd say it has something to do with those kids who make childish and degrading comments, like the one you made about "muscle."
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#22
Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:45amI'm sincerely happy you enjoyed it that much muscle. I know that feeling of loving something so much that you're brought to tears and it's a great feeling.
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#23
Posted: 7/24/07 at 1:53am
If we didn't enjoy the movie it doesn't mean we didn't "get it," we just didn't go ga-ga over it. I couldn't agree more with Wiz' comment about it not being bad but underwhelming instead.
I also don't see how we can all relate to Tracy, I actually found myself disliking her at times, so much chirpiness drives me insane. I guess it's bad that I found myself rooting for Michelle Pfeiffer at times except for her rooted racism of course.
Swing Joined: 10/21/06
re: Why do critics love Hairspray the movie?!?!#24
Posted: 7/24/07 at 2:16am
TVguy, I don't want to see an exact duplicate of the musical. I never said that. The only thing I'd like to see duplicated is it's quality.
And of course they are different in their own way. That goes without saying. Furthermore, any and all professional movie reviews do site the original John Waters' movie, so I'm not quite sure what your point is.
It's only natural to use the source material as a bases for the review.
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