"Hairspray (2007)" Like Hairspray a Necessity for Your Collection


     Filmed in Toronto? Check. John Travolta in Drag? Check. Zac Effron? Check. A moral that doesn't feel thrown in? Check. Great music? Of course. Hairspray is about everything I'd want in a musical, and more. I mean after watching the 2024 Mean Girls remake yesterday in theaters with my sister, it was genuinely astonishing how much better Hairspray was. The cast was belting out songs, the choreography was actually on point, and they let the songs breathe. It's almost amazing what can happen when you let a musical actually be a real musical.

    This was a blast, and I do have to highlight John Travolta. It's kind of amazing how realistic he felt, and at times you really do forget that it's a man doing drag. I'd love to find out how he does it, because without him, this musical falls apart. He plays the role of the mother so convincingly, and the relationship he has with Tracy is so adorable, who knew the man had it in him? I certainly didn't. Funnily enough, I thought one of the weaker parts of the movie was Travolta, because his voice just stuck out like a sore thumb, not because it was bad, but because everyone else simply sang better. Which is surprising considering he was in Grease, but different times I suppose.

    I mean pretty much everyone was on point though. Look I used to make Zac Effron as a kid, but he's really coming around for me. I suppose a lot of it is the fact that I used to hate High School Musical, but adore the series now, so there's that. I mean Nikki Blonsky? She worked hard on this musical, I don't know how she could dance do well like that, if only I had that level of body control and fluidity, it's truly astonishing and I applaud her for that.

    I suppose the only aspect of the movie that might be questionable is the whole race thing. I mean everything's so delightful, hearing them talk about Negro day is basically a shotgun blast to the chest in the first five minutes of the movie. That's not to say that I thought racism was tackled poorly in this film, it's just that showing stereotypical soul food when it was time to convince Edna to stay during the black people party, and having Seaweed pull out a knife when he says "I live in the ghetto" both feel kind of racially motivated. It made me raise an eyebrow, but other than that, it does have a pretty wholesome message of unity, so I'll let it slide, but I don't think it should be my decision to decide to let it slide.

Final Score: 78/100

    Not my favourite musical, but gosh darn it I love it nonetheless. My sister and I felt such irrational pride at recognizing many of the locations this movie is filmed in, Roncesvalles still looks about the same twenty years later, could you believe it? I mean if you don't like musicals I doubt you'd like this movie, but if you love musicals I can guarantee you'll find one song that'll cling to your mind by the end of this film. Am I easy to please with musicals? Sure, but it's a musical, why can't I enjoy it for what it is.

    

    

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