AutCuddly
Great movie! If you want to be entertained and have a few good laughs, see this movie. The music is also very good,
AnhartLinkin
This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.
Mehdi Hoffman
There's a more than satisfactory amount of boom-boom in the movie's trim running time.
Quiet Muffin
This movie tries so hard to be funny, yet it falls flat every time. Just another example of recycled ideas repackaged with women in an attempt to appeal to a certain audience.
brchthethird
Arguably the high point of John Waters' career, HAIRSPRAY is a fun, energetic and infectious movie with a top-notch soundtrack and earnest performances from everyone involved. The story centers around Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake), a "pleasantly plump" teenager who spends her afternoons watching the Corny Collins Show, where teenagers dance the most popular dances to the latest tunes. She manages to get on the show, and from there hopes to bring integration to Baltimore, Maryland (this takes place in 1962). While still maintaining some of the weirdness which made John Waters (in)famous, this film rises above campiness because of the social ideas it embraces, e.g., racial equality. There's also hints of commentary on fame and child stars, akin to themes explored in more explicit ways in his previous films, but the focus here is on bringing people together. And what better way than through music and dancing? Just about everything in the movie works, from the retro fashion which has been lovingly recreated/exaggerated to the choreography and music. It's so catchy that you just want to get up and dance yourself. Still, the movie isn't without its negatives. The narrative is a bit thin, and the conflict is resolved a little too easily, but this can be mostly forgiven because of the strength of everything else around it. Recommended for moviegoers of all ages.
DaleHirst
And by that I don't mean the colour of someone's skin, but in the manner of The League of Gentlemen etc but rather than using gross or weird out comedy it parodies one of the most disgusting periods of humanity's history, when someone could be looked down on, legally, with the full backing of the law and the public unwillingness to integrate when it was finally legislated against.This really was a more than decent watch if you let yourself suspend your incredulity a little. The dancing show was a hilarious parody of a 60s show, the performance by the parents and the 3 presenters outside of the show environment especially stand out as works of comedy genius with the children just there as a plot device to move the story on.7.5/10.
PoisonKeyblade
I wanted to like this movie a lot, I really did. After seeing the fantastic 2007 version of Hairspray and hearing a lot of buzz about the 1988 original, I just knew I had to see it. So that's precisely what I did. I went right to Blockbuster and I bought it, expecting to like the movie for my recent obsession over all things Hairspray (I listen to the music from the movie more times than you can imagine). I really didn't like it very much at all. I loved a couple things (Penny getting shock treatment was HYSTERICAL and they definitely should have kept the subplot in with Prudy following them to Motor Mouth Records and being scared of all the black people. That was so funny when she went to the officer and she realized he was black and went screaming down the street!) but it was mostly really boring. Divine was good, but he was nothing compared to John Travolta, I'm sorry to say. I also felt that the movie was too short. I also really didn't like the woman who played Motor Mouth Maybelle, but some of the other choices were just perfect. I really liked Tracy (the always-amazing Ricki Lake). The thing that really annoyed me would be that there was always a line that they made into the songs! "Hey Mama, welcome to the 60s!" Link was pretty funny, and that riot where both his legs were broken was ridiculous, but pretty funny. The dynamite thing in the hair was a bit much. I just don't see how so many people could like the original! I expected much more from it, I have to say.So don't look here for lots of fun, although the laughs often surprise you out of nowhere. This original version was very cheesy, and while I know that was its intention, I just didn't altogether buy it. As much as I like John Waters, this movie really did not impress me. The script was fantastic and the acting was comedic genius, especially from the legendary Divine. I have to say, though, that without all of the music and the insane energy, Hairspray just doesn't feel the same or have that same magic spark about it. Check it out, but don't expect more than a disposable comedy with great performances. The 2007 version of Hairspray is superior in almost every way imaginable.
Kristine
I heard a little bit about Hairspray, kinda like maybe it was an underground classic, some have heard of it, some haven't, but I just watched it over the weekend to find to surprise that it was directed by John Waters and starred Divine, I just recently viewed ...sigh... Pink Flamingos, so I had no idea as to what to expect from this movie. But I'd have to say it was a real pleasure to watch, as silly of a story as it was, it worked. In today's world, big girls are not really as well excepted, Ricki Lake took on that role as Tracy and made it OK to be big and beautiful.She plays Tracy Turnbird, a plump teenage girl who is a huge fan of a dance show called the Corny Collins show, she and her friend go onto the show and Tracy quickly jumps in to become one of the favorite dancers, in fact even more popular than her thinner rivals. But Tracy wins everyone's heart including her family and the love of the public as she goes to prove that big girls don't cry... that and you can never have hair that doesn't stand up high enough... you'll get that when you see the movie.Hairspray is a good movie, it had decent acting and a cute story that I'm sure that anyone could enjoy. So please do give it a look, I'm sure I'll see it again down the road, I told my friends about it and they are actually interested in seeing it, so goes to show you that the film might be still remembered for a few more decades to come, especially since it's being remade I just noticed, oi, Hollywood, can't you come up with something original?8/10