Hairspray Movie Review Thread

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/16/07 at 11:10pm

Post the official reviews here!

Updated On: 7/16/07 at 11:10 PM

[cubanpab]

Posted: 7/16/07 at 11:25pm

loved it! seriously... was not expecting anything great going in. "Chicago" is still the gold standard for me. Then "Dreamgirls" did a solid job, but Hudson was the real standout in that film and it lagged in spots. So I walked into "Hairspray" as a fan of the original film and someone who has seen the stage show twice, once with the OBC. I didnt know what to expect.

It was fantastic. Like some vintage "grease" type of experience. just 100% pure fun. sure there were some things here and there i wasnt as crazy about, and i missed "mama i'm a big girl now", but this movie really couldnt have been any better.

and travolta impressed me... he looked as freaky as i imagined, and he sounded like he could barely sing a note... but his physical humor saved his performance. he was pretty hilarious.

i dont want to spoil anything... but wait till u see it... theres one particular laugh right in the begining that had me (and the audience) in stitches.
Updated On: 7/16/07 at 11:25 PM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/16/07 at 11:34pm

So far, only one bad review:

http://nymag.com/listings/movie/hairspray/

Updated On: 7/16/07 at 11:34 PM

[SFJPS]

Posted: 7/16/07 at 11:44pm

Nikki lights up the screen. Travolta? Too broad of characterization and his face is missing any character lines/expression at all. He just smiles with a stupid grin that never changes. Great songs, great cameos, a good time movie. Not really John Waters' style anymore that's for sure. (reading the review from NY Movies--noted above--there are some comments that I agree with. But go see it and enjoy the candy!

[JRybka]

Posted: 7/16/07 at 11:47pm

anyone else see the great cameos:

John Waters as the flasher
Jerry Stiller as owner of the clothing store
And Ricki Lake and the director and Mark and Scott as the people from William Morris Agency?

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/16/07 at 11:50pm

On Broadway, the lovable Harvey Fierstein was at least a resourceful queen. For most of the film, John Travolta is a glaring mistake. For some reason, his face is ballooned with latex that hides his most endearing feature, that goofy cleft chin. With his studied Baltimore accent, he’s soft and shapeless, his casting a stunt with no reason for being except as a stunt.

*****

Adam Shankman’s movie of the Broadway Hairspray gets better as it lumbers along, but there’s something garish about its hustle—it’s like an elephant trumpeting in your face.


*****
The boisterous finale, “You Can’t Stop the Beat,” would have more punch if Marc Shaiman’s score weren’t so homogenized, with so little distinction between the white and black numbers. Hairspray doesn’t just preach color blindness. Its Utopia is also color deaf.

- New York Magazine

Updated On: 7/17/07 at 11:50 PM

[Marc Shaiman]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 12:44am

hey, why don't you print out quotes from all the other reviews you can read here...

as of Monday night 15 to 1.


hairspray reviews

[TapTapTapioca]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 12:48am

If somebody has posted those reviews I would have pulled out quotes from those.

[brdlwyr]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 12:50am

My 12 year old predicted that the audience will have gays, people who love Zac, and Blacks.

[Parks]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 1:54am

haha, brdlwyr, that made me laugh :).

[MyNY2008]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 2:30am

Saw it at an advanced screening...I really liked it. Elijah Kelley is incredible. Didn't like John Travolta at all. He just seemed to be acting like himself in a dress.

[emo_geek]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 3:58am

I thought the movie was just F-ing great. Cant type much since I am not at a computer. F-ing great. Will ser it 20 times more

[matty159]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 7:28am

Agreed! Effin' fantastic film that I plan to see many more times. I hope the raves keep on coming!!!

[JBSinger]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:29am

Saw the preview last night and LOVED it! It is so fun and actually, much funnier than the stage show. Casting was strong throughout and I thought each of the songs was shot in a fun, creative way (no spoilers).

The new songs work well and everyone is singing their nads off. The young cast is attractive and Hollywood star power is not wasted.

Someone get James Mardsen (Corny)a Broadway show. This man is beautiful, can act, sing & dance - WELL. He should be the lead in the Pal Joey revival (no offense Christian Hoff).

Queen Latifah (Maybelle)was solid and really seemed to push herself vocally. I like that all of her dialogue wasn't rhymed. It worked in the original movie, but not on stage.

Zac Effron (Link)- looked and sounded great, but the acting was kind of "one note" throughout. Great dancer and "Ladies Choice" was fun.

Amanda Bynes was a cute (but not quirky) Penny. Hers was also the only voice I could tell there was some "fixing" going on in the studio. Still she was funny and her line deliveries were great.

Elijah Kelly (Seaweed)- holy smokes! This boy is talented and beautiful! sings like a dream and can really dance. big star waiting to happen.

Allison Janney (Prudy Pingleton)- Hilarious! Can't wait to see if she continues with the 9 to 5 musical. some of the best laughs came from her.

Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma) - striking, severe, hilarious, wicked. a great scenery chewer.

Christopher Walken (Wilbur) - was solid and sweet. His devotion to Tracy and Edna were touching and he was game for the film's energy and premise.

Travolta (Edna) - though the dialect took some getting used to (and some laughs were dropped because of it), it was largely a success. her transformation in "Welcome to the 60's" was really moving and her blossoming throughout the show was great to see.

Nikka Blonsky (Tracy) - she was born to play Tracy. Perfect casting and such great energy.

The movie really moves quickly and does strike me as a "Grease" for this generation. I hope the public clamors to it like they should. the score is terrific and it still has a message beneath all the cotton candy. Great night out and I hope everyone here goes and takes 20 friends with them!

[pdjennings]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 8:40am

:)
http://themovieboy.com/directlinks/07hairspray.htm

[amoni]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 9:12am

Two Big Thumbs UP!

http://bventertainment.go.com/tv/buenavista/ebertandroeper/

[Cruel_Sandwich]

Posted: 7/17/07 at 2:06pm

I just had a thought....

HAIRSPRAY is opening the same day as I NOW PRONOUNCE YOU CHUCK AND LARRY.

Was this intentional?