Hairspray screening Wednesday night

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:47pm

Well, after the fiasco on Monday and another wait today, sometimes under an umbrella, and security checks worthy of Rikers Island, I FINALLY saw the Hairspray movie.

Go. See. It. Now. Somehow, it manages to stay true to the Broadway version.. AND the original film.. AND be something completely new and different. Don't go in expecting the stage version OR the movie.
The cast is first rate.. Nikki Blonsky is a REAL find. Zac Efron was great, as was Amanda Bynes. Queen Latifah is what you expect and so is Michelle Pfeiffer. Elijah Kelly is a break out in this and James Marsden is possibly the strongest of the leads. Allison Janey is GREAT.
John Travolta is a sweet, enderaing and loveable Edna that I very much enjoyed. He isn't doing the Edna we all know. He finds a new Edna and she is wonderful. The accent was distracting because no one else had it though.

I also greatly appreciate that a lot of what was cut for the film is still mentioned, referenced, or honors. The Madison and Cooties are still given appearance, as is the dodgeball game.

The new ending is suprising and very different than what you expect, but it fits wonderfully well.

Stay for the end credits.. between the visuals and the music, it is worth it!!!

Please, please go support this film!!!!

[mateo]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:54pm

yeah I loved the credits! I watched all the way till the end -

Where I believe I then heard Marc yell out in the back of the theatre "Who has gum!?"

lol.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:54pm

"Please, please go support this film!!!!"

Will you?

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/18/07 at 11:59pm

haven't you read anything I post on the boards? LOL. Since when has seeing Hairspray ever stopped me from seeing it again?

[JP2]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 12:20am

I'm dying! Ah! I'll be seeing a midnight screening, then multiple times again...

[onesongglory2]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 12:40am

Does it have end credits similar to Chicago and Dreamgirls with the cast? Kind of like a curtain call if you will.

[mateo]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 12:45am

in a way.


but not quite like the Producers/Chicago/Dreamgirls style.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 1:28am

"haven't you read anything I post on the boards?"

Honestly, no, anyways, Im glad that you will go see it again, Im bringing as many friends to see it on Saturday!

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 2:30am

I'm not usually one to run home from a movie and write about it, but I also attended a screening tonight, and I can't tell you much I enjoyed it. Watch out folks, this movie is gonna be big. No, make that huge. We're talking "summer blockbuster" plus "20 million tweens obsessed with it" huge.

When Chicago was released, it seems there was a certain amount of consensus that modern audiences could only buy into movie musicals with a gimmick to make the singing more palatable. In Chicago the musical numbers took place in Roxie's fantasy. In Dreamgirls, it made sense because we were watching a singing group most of the time.

In Hairspray, no such device is used, and no such device is necessary. This show is so unabashed about its extravagance that you just don't need one. From the opening chords to the last note, every musical number is silly and overchoreographed and over the top, but somehow it just works. The whole thing is so funny and charming and winning, I've seldom enjoyed myself more in a movie theater.

There isn't a weak link anywhere in the cast. Even John Travolta, whom I was predisposed to dislike, was wonderful, and newcomer Nikki Blonsky is just about as perfect a Tracy as you could ever find. Cute as a button doesn't even begin to describe her appeal; I've seen many buttons less cute. Particular kudos are in order for Elijah Kelly as Seaweed and Christopher Walken as Wilbur. And dang it all, I even loved Amanda Bynes as Penny. AMANDA FREAKING BYNES. What am I saying!?

I decided to chime in tonight to make a public record of how much I liked this movie, because I guarantee that in about a month, this thing will have turned into a mammoth obsession for the High School Musical crowd and I will be tempted to turn my snooty nose up at the new musical fad. So, striking while the iron is hot, I cannot recommend this highly enough.

Go now. See it five times. It's just so much fun, you will definitely want to see it more than once.

[pharmer2000]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 2:40am

Thanks for the reviews! I can not wait to see Hairspray this weekend!!!

[allofmylife]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 2:54am

I am normally blase about movies. I've seen enough that there are few surprises. However, I must say I am counting the seconds until I and my partners all go to see the movie on Friday.

We are taking the afternoon off just to see "Hairspray". This is something we've never collectively done before.

And afterward, I'll thank Marc for a great score, being a classy guy (as evidenced on this board during what must have been a trying week) and for taking the time to interact with "the public" in a way that few others in this business do on such a visceral level.

I am alive, atingle and aglow...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 1:32pm

Amen. This movie is spot on and perfectly honors both the stage and previous screen version.

Also, every last cameo had me DYING laughing.. particularly in the finale!

[NJgirl]

Posted: 7/19/07 at 1:57pm

Glad to hear a rave from someone who loves Hairspray the musical as much or more than I do. I was waiting for the response from one of the die hard 'Spray fans..lol. I can't wait to see it tomorrow night!

[shig]

Posted: 7/21/07 at 12:03am

I just got back from the theatre (I didn't think it was gonna play here 'cause I live in a small town)

so, here's my two cents.

overall, I enjoyed the movie very much, and both movies and cast of the musical always have adorable Seaweed, that's a HUGE plus.

Some of the movie scenes dissapointed a little.
(I try not to be a spoiler)

1. How Tracy and Link met, and get along with each other.
(I know the musical version is tacky, but it's so cute)

2. I can hear the bells, alrite, I guess that's the way it should be in the movie,,

3. Outfit while Welcome to the 60's, they weren't that gorgeous to me

4. Tracy being in a jailhouse, and portray of 'without love', I thought this is THE disappointment since it plays a huge role

5. what the heck with Miss Teenage Baltimore??

6. No mercy for Amber or Velma?

So, lemme know how ya'll felt!