Review of Hairspray (2007) by Jonathan B — 17 Nov 2014

Based the cult John Waters movie the musical Hairspray transferred to the screen in 2007 and is largely successful despite some bizarre casting. Most notably here is the cringe-worthy John Travolta dragged-up as Edna Turnblad but he's really not helped by Queen Latifah or Christopher Walken (who seems to be inexplicably creepy in what should be a far more comedic character).

There are some genuinely funny moments and some nifty little tunes which help the action bubble along. Credit for the success of many of these must go to the other cast members, particularly Nikki Blonsky, Zac Efron and Elijah Kelley.

It's a brash and colourful movie adequately directed by Adam Shankman but the serious plot lines dealing with racial prejudice and segregation in early 60s America are somewhat trivialised and becomes lost.

I've not seen the stage version but would imagine that it works better as a show in that format and gives the more lighthearted aspects of the plot a chance to shine through, thanks to a direct relationship with an audience.