Who didn't think Hairspray was *that* great? — Page 4

thanks, I also wanna point out that I have only been posting in the negative hairspray threads (the one about razzies and this one about people who didn't like it). And so if anyone is really bothered by my opinion or doesn't want to participate in a discussion about why I didn't like the movie then you probably shouldn't post in these threads... just a suggestion.

Best12-
I think I agree with your dad (O/T I can't find my thread that I started).

I was bored through a vast majority of the film. The opening number was sooooo illogical, why were the people of Baltimore not singing with her?

Someone said that this was the type of old fashioned movie musical, and I would agree. However, it was directed by someone who clearly does not understand musical theatre. There was no life to the musical numbers, I can't remember one specific thing I liked in them.

The deletion of the jail warden really really screwed up both "I Know Where I've Been" (Not as powerful as it should have been), and "Without Love" (Trunk? Car? PICTURE?)

Casting wise, I actually enjoyed most of the cast, Allison Janney was underused, Zac Efron and John Travolta suprisingly good. Nikki Blonsky got on my nerves. She was just too, earnest all the time. She never felt real, almost a mild parody. Queen Latifah, while talented, wasn't jaded enough.

At least on the soundtrack I can skip over to the songs I enjoy, and not have to sit through the bad cinematography (sp?)

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I posted before work, and it was gone before I got home.

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Husk, I very much agree with your comment on "Without Love," I found it to be quite sloppy.
Maybe I don't have a heart or I'm too cynical but I was utterly bored by most of the film. There were some highlights of course, Alison Janney was great even if her acting was so campy that it seemed a bit out of style with the rest of the film, I enjoyed Elijah Kelley and James Marsden as well. Queen Latifah indeed didn't seem jaded enough but her "I Know Where I've Been" was one of the few moments were I was completely involved in the film.
One thing that I thought was great about the movie that DREAMGIRLS failed to do is the fact that it ends with a bang, it gets my kudos for having one of the most upbeat, exciting finales of any movie musical that I've seen. I think in many ways that is what the critics remembered though.

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Lorings-
That's fine he can justify it, but personally, it didn't get the film off to a rousing start, and left it with nothing to build from.

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I agree with everything Anakela had to say. I don't know what I was expecting, though, but I was not as wowed by the film as others were. But I did have a mostly fun time. Elijah Kelley was the highlight for me, as was the simple shock of Jerry Stiller (who can add yet another cameo appearance to his resumé). I have only recently seen the stage version and have never seen the original film, but I personally wasn't crazy about the changes made from the stage show. I wanted Amanda Bynes to really bust out during "Without Love." But I loved the choreography; I found myself drawn to the dancers in the background more so than to the main action.

Overall, a good movie. Nowhere near a favorite of what I've seen in the past year (only 5 or 6 movies). I was almost more excited to see Julie White in the trailer for "The Nanny Diaries" than I was seeing anything during the actual film.

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Right---and that WORKS because the contrast between this cheerful, sunny girl traipsing through the streets singing and the people just looking at her like she's crazy is what makes it funny. The point of the song is that we need to see what sets this girl apart from everyone else, which is her unwavering optimism and excitement. If EVERYONE was singing and dancing along with her in that opening scene, it wouldn't work.

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I thought it was okay, with one glaring piece of latex-encrusted miscasting.

Here's my review: www.roscoewrites.blogspot.com

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John Travolta and Zac Efron were the only bad apples in this film. The rest of the characters were enjoyable; of course I lip-synched every song and my toes were tapping. The energy was great, but I took a bit of offense to the fact that they changed some of the keys for the songs (particularly the beginning of "Good Morning Baltimore" and some of "You Can't Stop the Beat"), and changed the storyline as a result of cut songs.

John Travolt's makeup didn't bother me half as much as Zac's. He too looked like he belonged in a wax museum.

I actually liked the extra scene between Velma and Wilbur to set up YOU'RE TIMELESS TO ME. I always felt it was a great song in the musical that you sort of expect but it doesn't do much to advance the plot.

I was actually surprised by Travolta's performance. And Michelle Pfeifer was hot hot hot in that wig. There were some funny moments I felt were lost. Like Velma's "communicable diseases" line and if you noticed Efron's face during the dance when he walks off camera. But he was so far down in the bottom corner you would have missed his reaction (I think to dancing with "those" people).

I happened to really love the way they made fun of the singing - like Tracy missing the bus because she is too busy singing. I also liked I CAN HEAR THE BELLS and her slamming the guys against the locker. Also, Link singing to Tracy's picture (and her picture singing back).

And Edna cooking him a ham (?).

I liked that they didn't have the street people singing. I think NOT ANOTHER TEEN MOVIE says it best, "You'd never know that everyone in this school is a professional dancer." (or something like that)

Updated On: 7/24/07 at 02:33 PM

I didnt feel that the camp factor was missing, I thought it was ardently present.

and

I didn't see/feel any directorial choice that I feel needed explaining.

What are you referring to in those cases exactly?

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