DANG!!!! HAIRSPRAY LOOKS GOOD

I was lucky enough to see some of the filming while I was recuperating up in Toronto. Now that I'm back at work in LA, I just saw some of the film and it looks simply wunnnerful!

It's so rare that we here in Hollywood even come close to capturing the thrill of a Broadway show. Even "Chicago" I thought had some pretty cheezy scenes but this looks so darn good that I think they may have a classic on their hands AS LONG AS Travolta works.

I was one of the people defending him ("he has one helluva great box of tools to bring to any project") but the thing I'm just a little worried about is that the other casting is so UTTERLY spot on (this kid Nikki Blonsky is, I feel, better in the role than Marissa Winoker) and the execution of the movie is of such high calibre that suddenly Travolta, admittedly one of the most seasoned pros in the the film is facing the possibility of being described as the weak link.

I never saw that coming.

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Updated On: 4/21/07 at 05:27 PM

I am trying not to build myself up too much before this comes out. I am SO looking forward to seeing this on the big screen. However, I have to say that when I saw this trailer for the first time, I choked up. It looks like they got it right... it really does. I can't wait to see it.

Travolta is my biggest concern as well, if for no other reason, 'legends' in the role aside, than Edna is such a hard role to truly get right.

As far as Marissa Winokur goes, and I am not saying Mariss is great or awful in saying this.. it is purely by comparison -- Marissa is one of the weakest Tracys I have seen.

I can't wait!

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I basically concur with everything allmylife said.

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I agree wholeheartedly with allofmylife. The last scene with Travolta making the being big comment left me so sad that I had to replay it over and over again and pray that hopefully this isn't a good scene with him. John Goodman would have been great in the role!

I'm very much looking forward to his take on Edna. I think he is fine in the trailer and as someone else said he isn't in very much of it. How can you judge him on those very few lines? Hell, how can you judge anyone by the trailer? I have no clue what footage allofmylife saw, but everyone else seems to have only seen him in the trailer and that is simply not fair to John or the movie as a whole.

Updated On: 4/21/07 at 06:57 PM

And it's funny- some people are saying he's not as wild as Harvey or not as feminine as Harvey or not as butch as Devine or is going to broad with the character or not far enough.. you just can't please everyone.

Mateo, no offense, but you've lost your credibility here. Take a break. Every HAIRSPRAY-related defense in every HAIRSPRAY-related thread that you make just sounds like you're getting worked up in a huff because other people's opinions vary from your payrolled views. We're judging based solely on the trailer, because that's what is being presented to us as consumers who will be spending money to see this film. If you want to state an opinion without having to allow others to share their differing ones, then don't do so on a public forum made up mostly of the paying public, not the paid promotion team.

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The movie looks AMAZING!

I'm not all that impressed by Amanda Bynes though...or John Travolta for that matter. I'm sure they'll be just fine but I just wish they would've gotten Harvey for Edna...

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Harvey has zero box office appeal. That's why he wasn't cast.

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Marc said in an ASCAP interview that the producers mentioned John Travolta to the studio- and then that was it, they didn't want to consider anyone else.

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"Although Harvey is not a draw as a "big name" he's still a very familiar face."

He is? Maybe in New York and in the industry, but he's far from familiar in terms of nationwide appeal. I hate to be one of those people who say all of this stuff, but to quote Debra Monk: "It's a business".

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I live in MS and every time I mention him I have to say "the guy from Independence Day." or "the guy from Mrs. Doubtfire." and then people knows who he is. So would that mean he had a "familiar face" or voice at least!

I understand that people wouldn't go to see him, but let's be honest, who in Middle America actually would WANT to see a musical?

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I understand that but...ah forget it.

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