My Way of Life
The Two Mrs. Von Tussles…
Saturday we went to see Hairspray-The Musical film. I was apprehensive about the this due to the fact that John Travolta was cast as Edna Turnblad. With Queen Latifah as Motormouth Mabel, that’s one big ass closet, er, I mean dressing room they must have had on the set. Fear not, Hairspray lovers, like the glowing reviews I have read, the film is a delight. It’s what it should be-FUN. Light harmless, fun. I thought I would HATE John Travolta, but I didn’t. His Edna was very subdued, and vulnerable. Sometimes I thought it was a bit toosubdued, but the critics love that ‘acting’ thing and of course, John’s dancing was fantabulous. I thought Divine’s Edna was very vulnerable too, and a lot funnier. Harvey Fierstein was another Edna I dreaded, but I fell in love with his big brassy Edna when I saw Hairspray in NYC. I didn’t fall in love with John Travolta, but there were some great little moments. He’ll probably get a Golden Globe for this…
I thought the musical numbers workedreally, really well. They seamlessly blended in with the book. You never had that ’Crap! Another song!” feeling like I did when whenever a Motormouth Mabel ‘empowerment’ song started. We get it…you’re proud! Director Adam Shankman did a terrific job. Nikki Blonskly was terrific as Tracy Turnblad. She measured up to Ricki Lake and Marissa Idontfeellikelookingup hernameaker…
Alison Janney as the Prudence Pingleton stole every scene she was in. They made Prudence bigoted and religious in the film. Elijah Keely as Seaweed was another bright spot. Queen Latifah was good, but too young, and couldn’t sing the songs the way they were made to be sung. Um what else? Amanda Bynes was weak. Took a really funny part and made it dull. Plus, it looked like she had a tan! Damn, James Marsden is hot….
Michelle Pfeiffer matched the arch campy Waters style even though her Velma didn;t have the monster hair that Debbie Harry had. All the hairdos didn’t hold a candle to the original film, because Hollywood waters everything down. Michelle just had the eyebrow thing necessary to be a good villain, and she plays evil well. Of course the original John Waters directed version will always be the best Hairspray. You can’t top Divine in that role. You just can’t. But I like this film and would see it again. I missed The Big Doll House number and Mama, I’m a Big Girl Now, but that’s show business, eh? I apologize in advance that this post has a high school film reviewer tone to it but this is what came out. I was going to do a big camp aesthetic comparison but I have to work…
3 Handbags (out of a possible 4) I think Michael Miller would give it 4 Handbags…
Filed under: My Way Of Life
I really liked it too… but it took a long time to get over John Travolta’s puppet face. I mean he looked like a SIMS character or something. They could have just made a computer generated Devine… but it was good fun, and we need more hopeful movies of tolerance… with good musical numbers…
Yours is the second review I’ve heard from “real” Hairspray fans that concurs with the critics…that the movie is actually pretty good. I have to admit, I’m hesitant to go see it. I mean, really…John Travolta? Can I get past that??? I’m not sure. I’m sure I’ll see it eventually but you’re right, the original will always be the best.
Yes, John, I agree. Travolta’s face DID look very rubbery.
That’s because they put him in one of those fat suits like Goldie Hawn wore in “Death Becomes Her.” I think they are made of some sort of rubbery material…and they don’t breathe well!
David,
If you pick up the soundtrack, it has “Mama, I’m A Big Girl Now” on it… performed by all three Tracys: Ricki Lake, Marissa Jaret Winokur and Nikki Blonsky.
Wait, they had to put Travolta in a fat suit…I thought it was all naturale!