Hairspray The Movie: Spending 20 Minutes in Musical Heaven

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:00am

Hey everyone-

Last week I was one of the people invited by New Line Cinema to attend a 20 minute preview of Hairspray here in New York City. I would imagine the highlights we saw were the same shown at ShoWest (minus the live performances in front of the screen).

A brief history - Hairspray has always been near and dear to my heart because not only did I have friends involved in the workshops and also the Original Broadway Cast, but I also became friendly with several others. On a personal note, 3 cast members had profound affect on my life for which I will never be able to repay them for.

Anyway - always a big fan of the material every since I got early reports and demos sent to me, I - like many of you were - anxious to see just how this would work as a movie. Would it be faithful, how would the movie cast do, how would you bottle the magic that was on stage every night and put that on a big screen, etc etc. And with a few recent movie musicals that have had challenges with not only the "conversion" but also appeasing fans, I was also curious.

So as I mentioned, I saw 20 minutes worth (most of the opening number and then a bunch of clips and musical numbers including part of the finale). Adam Shankman was there (along with Craig Zadan and Neil Meron) and prefaced the screening by stating that the soundtrack we were hearing was the one used to FILM the movie and not the final mix. He also expressed to the intimate audience that making this movie was the best experience of his life and could only express it as pure joy - joy joy joy. He made some other brief comments before the room went dark and the audience was treated to exactly what he had said. Pure Joy.

I think just about everybody (let's face it, they couldn't possibly please everyone because there will always be people who miss this scene, that line, this performer, etc) will adore this movie. Shankman and the cast (which are all top notch in their performances) have captured the energy, fun and heart of the musical while also making it its own. Those who are going to go in and expect to see a straight translation (sets, costumes, etc) will miss the point entirely. The sets, costumes, etc for the film are exactly what they should be for this medium. I know there were early concerns based on sneak previews we saw of the costume fittings and early production and on the set photos - but let me assure you - if they went with the Broadway costumes and set pieces (or similar) - the movie would have looked like a cartoon.

The musical numbers (and they're only going to get better because Marc is feverishly working on the mix now) are outstanding and full of energy. The new songs sublime (wish there were more clips!)

The cast embodied their characters with some of them giving new line readings to popular quotes that were not only interesting choices, but dare I say - funnier? More interesting?

I actually sat through two of the screenings that night. First I watched with the critical eye (the cynical one - paying attention to sets, performances, travolta's makeup, costumes, editing, camera work, etc). I will be honest and say the only thing after that first screening I wasn't 100 percent on board (more like 80 percent) was John Travolta. Not because he wasn't believable or anything the like - but it was that he was using a baltimore accent that I wasn't too familiar with (authentic, but just odd pronounciations of some words). Again - the first time I watched I watched expecting to pick it apart mentally.

I was overjoyed to find that other than the accent, I really had nothing else to "worry" about (for lack of better word)

So I went into the second screening about 30 minutes later and watched it again. Travolta was great and looks like he had so much fun doing it too. I chalk it up to that we only saw 20 minutes worth of highlights (a lot fo highlights) and never landed on any one scene long enough to hear enough dialogue to see that flow. Not a bad thing, just that Travolta's accent with such short dialogue initially stuck out. Not so the second time.

I can't rave enough about Nikki Blonsky. Get ready to be WOW'd. Seriously. She is FIERCE and there's no way you can't love her from frame 1. Michelle Pfeifer? Amazing with even the simplest of eyebrow moves. Christopher Walken is terrific as are Amanda Bynes and Zac Efron. Efron makes the role his own and I am sure won't disappoint. Queen Latifah is a pleasure to watch. So are Brittany Snow, Elijah Kelley and James Marsden

And as corny as it sounds - the worst part of the evening was that we didn't get to see the other 80 minutes.

I'll write more and/or answer questions if anyone has any.. but get ready for a great summertime flick amongst all the big action blockbusters all with 2 or 3 (or more) in the titles...

[best12bars]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:16am

Thanks for the report, Craig. I'm really looking forward to seeing it, and have high hopes!

[zepka102]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 9:40am

that makes me even more excited to see this

[doodlenyc]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 10:27am

I dont understand what the problem is with Travolta's accent. The action takes place in Baltimore, right? Seems he took the role very seriously and tried to be authentic. It is a very tough accent to do (one Tracey Ullman skit hit it on the head, as I recall) so I give him alot of credit for doing it.
Was the problem that he was the only one with the accent so it seemed out of place?

Glad the film seems like such a winner. I was not looking too forward to it, as I felt the original film was perfect...now I'm kinda excited.

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 10:38am

There's no "problem" - it's just a well done pronounced accent that differs in delivery from all previous Edna's. It's not a negative at all.. just in the short clips, took some mental "adjusting". Not sure how to explain that more. As I said - I think he was great

[DRSisLove]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:07am

Sounds great.
I'm so excited for this movie, and have been since Day 1.

I need a little more 'Spray in my life after losing the lotto a few weeks ago. (I was looking foward to the show so much!)

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:09am

Craig, thanks for your report. Those who know me, know I don't particularly care for movies, but I'm SO looking forward to this one.

Is the movie premiering in Hollywood or Baltimore?

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:14am

I know for certain that they are having A premiere in LA - but I don't know or think that's the only one...

[mateo]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:19am

Yay Craig!

I watched that footage twice aswell- I am glad you had as good'a'time as I had.

The footage at ShoWest was similar. Except just about all of GMB was shown.

I can't wait for the trailer to come out so that everyone can see what we are raving about.


(BTW watch ET this evening for a sneek peak at The 'Spray)

[BrodyFosse123]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:20am

For all the obvious reasons...you can expect a premiere in Baltimore, as well as the traditional ones in New York and Los Angeles, then the standard international ones.

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:21am

Yeah - that's what I wrote - we saw pretty much all of GMB as well...

Very cleverly shot and immediately sets the tone for the film

[mateo]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:27am

If we saw the same footage-

The 20 minute showed the latter portion of GMB, correct? Which the ShoWest clipping did not - since nikki sang the end live.

But that middle section of GMB had me grinning and clapping like never before. You probably know the part... just brilliant!

Updated On: 4/4/07 at 11:27 AM

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:35am

It showed the beginning of the number - it cut a verse (or two) and then showed her missing the bus (no spoilers) and getting to school (no spoilers) and up through the bell ringing that school was in session

[mateo]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:36am

When I saw that part I was SO~LD!

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:43am

I remember the first time I saw the show on Broadway (twice in one day during a visit when I lived in Florida) and not wanting to get up out of my seat after the finale and curtain call - it was like being invited to someone's party.

As silly as this sounds - I hope that after the movie - that the credit sequence has either an encore of YCSTB with random shots or they do a shot of each performer in a scene with their name under it like some movies.

[mateo]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:48am

I hope so too.


I still hope that 'mama im a big girl now' plays over the ending credits.

But yes a movie curtain call would be wonderful.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:48am

Craig, I hear you regarding this show. I think I'm up to 15 visits between the Broadway company and the tour, and this is one show guaranteed to make me happy.

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:51am

Oh - I remember Adam's funny comment before the preview

He said "This is my Franken-Trailer"

Thought that was amusing.

Oh.. and I can pretty much guarantee that the extras on the DVD release will be fantastic too...

[Wanna Be A Foster]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:52am

I think the cast member that I am most excited about is Nikki Blonsky. In all of the promo shots, she just looks so adorable, I cannot imagine the audience not falling in love with her.

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 11:59am

I have no worries about Nikki winning everyone over. She's having the time of her life on that screen and it shows. And apparently her energy radiated onto everyone else involved in the production....

[theaterdude87]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:12pm

this is very exciting. i cannot wait to see the movie.

[mateo]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:14pm

I hope the DVD has one of those feature length documentaries. "From Root to Tip." :)

[Craig]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:20pm

Mamma I'm a big film now

Welcome to the 60 minute documentary

:)

[mateo]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 12:43pm

clever!

[fossemoves]

Posted: 4/4/07 at 2:23pm

The more I hear, the more I hope Hollywood finally got it right.