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Thursday, August 16, 2007
Hairspray is very good indeed. In fact it may well be the feel good movie of the summer. It’s appeal is spreading faster than an infestation of crabs on a Hilton sisters holiday. I defy people not to get sucked into it’s relentlessly perky, upbeat world. Not having seen the John Waters 1988 version, I haven’t had the worry of comparing the two...I was however, aware of the 2002 musical version of it, and here is what I wrote about it after my XO tinged New York trip earlier this year...
“While the 2002 cast recording features Deborah Gibson's pal Janet Marissa Winokur, it's slightly more exciting that the current broadway cast of this totally fun show features my American Idol fave Diana DeGarmo (in a role she was born to play!) and desperado Ashley Parker Angel from O-Town fame! Hurrah! Who says reality tv kills your career (oh. Jade!). It's certainly a peppy, upbeat show with totally catchy soundtrack about a young girl who longs to dance on American Bandstand but doesn't fit that "typical teenager mould" - and is further stunned that white people can't dance with african americans :O An issues based musical can sometimes be a drag but never here. From the very peppy opening numberGood Morning Baltimore to the stunning finale You Can't Stop The Beat this is a winner all the way through and utterly delicious. Can't wait for the movie remake later this year :)”
The film deviates a little bit from the stage version, but ends up a tauter production because of it. Nikki Blonski is amazing in the role of Tracey, a girl who constantly wants to see the good in the world, and doesn’t understand why people shouldn’t all be treated the same. It’s her unwavering commitment to this that inspires the people around her to break out of conformity and get with the cause. Which all sounds very heavy if you write it like that, but is actually just sparkling and sunny pretty much all the way through. The cast here are all excellent – Zac Efron is less annoying than in HSM and does well as Tracey’s love interest. His little winks of introduction are quite cheesy, but within character and his big solo number (written specially for the movie) ‘Ladies Choice’ is a rollicking energetic pop rocker. Michelle Pfeiffer is appropriately uptight and superior in her big number ‘Miss Baltimore Crabs’, while John Travolta is just hilarious as the two ton Edna Turnblad (who gets to mutter the line “It’s been years since anyone asked me to dance”! Ooo subversive!). Even his dance scene in the big finale is strangely mesmerising.
The big numbers all work extremely well. Opener Good Morning Baltimore is exactly how every morning should start for everyone – full of hope and inspiration and John Waters as a flasher. Can You Hear The Bells is a dreamy little love poem that gains extra hilarity from Tracey walking down the hall, pushing people out of her way and telling her driving instructor “won’t go all the way, but I’ll go pretty far…”; I have to disagree slightly with PPG and say that Without Love works well even without the visual accompaniment, although it is a gem. The stage version (below) is actually slightly different – though both have lines in them that relate directly to what is happening on the screen/stage, so actually I can see where PPG is coming from! Haha, however, it’s one of my favourite songs on the album and in the film. I guess I just like the message. It’s the finale that kicks it all into high gear though ~ Can’t Stop The Beat integrates the two dancing teams on the Corny Collins show (James Marsden looking very RAR and politically correct!) and wraps all the storylines up. Though, that Inez chick who wins the crown was a rubbish dancer imo and actually is probably only one of those cutesy kids who wins things because she is young. Ew. That aside it’s very uplifting, catchy and indeed does make you want to swim in an integrated pool!
Underappreciated ~ James Marsden does a good job of being the cheesy host, but brings a slight gravitas to the role as he struggles to develop it socially to be more inclusive. And Amanda Byrnes – I freaking love her. She does amazingly well in the role, with her facial expressions being the highlights. When Seaweed cuts her loose from the ropes her mother has put her in and pulls out a blade, she looks very turned on for a brief second! Genius. Oh and the final pop number through the credits ‘Come So Far’ is SClub inspired brilliance (and written especially for the film)…
Extras ~ Cooties and Mama I’m A Big Girl Now feature on the movie soundtrack but not in the film. They are taken from the stage show version and recorded for the soundtrack. Deleted scenes on the dvd? One hopes so! Plus extra points if you spot Ricki Lake’s cameo in the film…
MP3: Without Love(stage version)
MP3: Come So Far(film version)
MP3: Welcome To The Tonys (Forbidden Broadway parody)
LINK: Literally, eh dluv...
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