Hairspray Dance Through Race, Obesity

Step back into the 60’s and dance your way through this upbeat musical. Hairspray is an extremely flamboyant movie about a young girl that dreams of dancing on the Corny Collins show where all the nice kids go.

This film has a lighthearted take on segregation and obesity. But neither of these problems can get Tracy Turnblad down. Nikki Blonsky makes her appearance as the bouncy, chubby and extremely optimistic Tracy who dances her way to the top. Amanda Bynes plays her best friend Penny Pingleton. When she isn’t running around with Tracy she’s sucking on candy. She falls in love with the main black singer/dancer Seaweed (played by Eliah Kelley) whose song and dance numbers are outstanding.

Her mother is a hilarious addition who thinks Tracy is a horrible example for her daughter and ties Penny up with a jump rope while throwing holy water on her saying, “devil child.”

Other casting was John Travolta playing Edna Turnblad, which was a very interesting, semi-disturbing choice of character as he is a woman through the entire film, but he does pull off the role of Tracy’s mother very well. Christopher Walken plays Tracy’s lovable father Wilber who took five years to figure out his wife was even flirting. Michelle Pheiffer plays Velma VonTussle, the sinister, ex-beauty pageant, racist studio manager who will not allow integration on her station and will do all she can to prevent it. Queen Latifah puts in a great performance as Motormouth Maybelle and adds a great voice to the line-up.

And another notable singer is Zac Efron who played the heartthrob off of the Corny Collins show that Tracy falls head over heels for.

The overall plot of this movie is based on racism but the secondary plot is weight acceptance, although both are brought up in a positive light. So, if you’re into an upbeat musical based on social issues that will make you laugh, you will enjoy this flick.

Hairspray is playing at the Chisholm Trail 8 Theatre in Newton. Other upcoming movies will be showing soon that include The Simpsons, and No Reservtions (which looks like it could be the best romantic comedy so far this year). Check out the arcade at the theatre while you wait for your show to start.

© Cinematalk.com 2007 © Angela Ingram, Harvey County Independent