Probably the only John Waters movie that has a relatively mainstream audience, Hairspray is hair-hopping good fun. Upbeat, political, and positively hysterical, this is the one John Waters movie that's safe to take the kids to. Though the trashy John Waters is near and dear to my dark heart, this film is the John Waters movie I've seen the most and ranks right up there as one of the top three Waters flicks of all time.
The movie is based on a Baltimore-based "American Bandstand"-type show in the 60's. Ricki Lake plays the pleasantly plump Tracy Turnblad who wins a part on the show (to her arch-nemesis Amber's displeasure). As Tracy soon discovers, the show has a highly racist side as it will not allow blacks to be regulars on the show. Tracy, along with her new hottie, Link, rebel against the show and hilarious (and heart-warming) mayhem ensues.
The film is incredibly fresh, even today. Though it deals with serious issues (racism, prejudice toward interracial couples, etc.), it remains a light movie without lightening these issues. This film really shows John Waters' writing ability as the dialogue is absolutely fabulous. Much of the humor is verbal humor, unlike his normal situational humor (characters getting into humorous situations). This film came right after Polyester which was much darker. If you watch the two movies back to back, the difference is amazing. This is why John Waters still has a career today. He is one of the few writers/directors that can conform to the ever-changing tastes of his viewing public.
Love him or hate him, John Waters brings the best out of his actors. Ricki Lake was positively charming as the optimistic Tracy Turnblad. Divine (everyone's favorite 300-pound drag queen) was hysterically realistic both as Tracy's mom and as the grumpy head of the television network. Sonny Bono and Debbie Harry were hysterical as Amber's parents.
Even the bit players were absolutely hysterical. Not to mention, this is the only film that John Waters both directed and appeared in.
Unless you are a true "early-Waters" purist, I can't imagine that you would not enjoy this movie. John Waters once said that "A PG rating in one of his films was the only shock left". I would tend to agree. This film is innocent and pure, but still not losing any of the Waters charm we've come to know through his notorious Pink Flamingos. All-in-all, this isn't any less of a Waters film, in fact it's MORE of a Waters film. This film paved the way for his later "technically superior" work. If you are a fan of the later Waters flicks, see the one that started it all.
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