Plot
Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.
Release Year: 2007
Rating: 7.0/10 (52,314 voted)
Critic's Score: 81/100
Director:
Adam Shankman
Stars: John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky
Storyline Tracy Turnblad, an overweight teenager with all the right moves, is obsessed with the Corny Collins Show. Every day after school, she and her best friend Penny run home to watch the show and drool over the hot Link Larkin, much to Tracy's mother Edna's dismay. After one of the stars of the show leaves, Corny Collins holds auditions to see who will be the next person on the Corny Collins show. With all of the help of her friend Seaweed, Tracy makes it on the show, angering the evil dance queen Amber Von Tussle and her mother Velma. Tracy then decides that it's not fair that the black kids can only dance on the Corny Collins Show once a month, and with the help of Seaweed, Link, Penny, Motormouth Maybelle, her father and Edna, she's going to integrate the show.....without denting her 'do!
Writers: Leslie Dixon, John Waters
Cast: John Travolta
-
Edna Turnblad
Michelle Pfeiffer
-
Velma Von Tussle
Christopher Walken
-
Wilbur Turnblad
Amanda Bynes
-
Penny Pingleton
James Marsden
-
Corny Collins
Queen Latifah
-
Motormouth Maybelle
Brittany Snow
-
Amber Von Tussle
Zac Efron
-
Link Larkin
Elijah Kelley
-
Seaweed
Allison Janney
-
Prudy Pingleton
Nikki Blonsky
-
Tracy Turnblad
Taylor Parks
-
Little Inez
Jayne Eastwood
-
Miss Wimsey
Paul Dooley
-
Mr. Spritzer
Jerry Stiller
-
Mr. Pinky
Taglines:
In July 2007, are you ready for something big?
Filming Locations: 1116 King St. W., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Box Office Details
Budget: $75,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $27,476,745
(USA)
(20 July 2007)
(3 Screens)
Gross: $202,548,575
(Worldwide)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: Amanda Bynes' pigtails took two hours in hair and make-up every morning.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
There are a number of musical anachronisms: songs, LPs that were not yet available in 1962. The Top 10 chart on the CC Show has "Leader of the Pack" and other songs yet to be released. Motormouth's record store racks show, among others, Junior Walker & the All-Stars' "Road-Runner" LP, Smokey Robinson & the Miracles' "A Pocketfull of Miracles" LP, and a Marvin Gaye & Tammi Terrell LP, all not released for another few years.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Tracy Turnblad:
[singing]
Oh, oh, oh, woke up today, feeling the way I always do. Oh, oh, oh, hungry for something that I can't eat. Then I hear that beat. That rhythm of town starts calling me down. It's like a message from high above. Oh, oh, oh, pulling me out to the smiles and the streets that I love. Good morning, Baltimore!
User Review
The Ultimate Feel Good Film!
Rating: 10/10
I just saw Hairspray the movie at the 5th Avenue Theater in
Seattle--the same theater where Hairspray the musical premiered five
years ago. It could be that I am just dizzied by the dashing good looks
of Zac Efron, but the magic that was produced on stage by the original
Hairspray cast has transfered flawlessly to the big screen.
I couldn't have asked for more. Nikki Blonsky premiered beautifully as
the spunky and voluptuous Tracy Turnblad. John Travolta delivered.
Christopher Walken was charming and hilarious. Queen Latifah was "big,
black, and beautiful." Michelle Pfeiffer--perfectly obnoxious...the
list goes on.
The candy colored costumes and thrilling choreography were so
enjoyable, and even the more serious parts of the film (though there
are very few!) were touching and sincere.
The only thing I wished had been included was the song "Mama I'm a Big
Girl Now." While it would have been a great addition, other big song
and dance numbers carried the film along just fine.
I caught myself smiling like a buffoon more than once. A must see for
musical lovers--or anyone who just likes to have a good time.
Plot
A 'pleasantly plump' teenager teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.
Release Year: 1988
Rating: 6.8/10 (9,826 voted)
Critic's Score: 76/100
Director:
John Waters
Stars: Sonny Bono, Ruth Brown, Divine
Storyline 'Pleasantly Plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show. Now a teen hero, she starts using her fame to speak out for the causes she believes in, most of all integration. In doing so, she earns the wrath of the show's former star, Amber Von Tussle, as well as Amber's manipulative, pro-segregation parents. The rivalry comes to a head as Amber and Tracy vie for the title of Miss Auto Show 1963.
Cast: Sonny Bono
-
Franklin von Tussle
Ruth Brown
-
Motormouth Maybelle
Divine
-
Edna Turnblad
/
Arvin Hodgepile
Deborah Harry
-
Velma Von Tussle
(as Debbie Harry)
Ricki Lake
-
Tracy Turnblad
Jerry Stiller
-
Wilbur Turnblad
Colleen Fitzpatrick
-
Amber von Tussle
Michael St. Gerard
-
Link Larkin
Leslie Ann Powers
-
Penny Pingleton
Clayton Prince
-
Seaweed
Mink Stole
-
Tammy
Shawn Thompson
-
Corny Collins
Ric Ocasek
-
Beatnik Cat (special apperances)
Pia Zadora
-
Beatnik Chick
Joann Havrilla
-
Prudence Pingleton
Taglines:
Baltimore, 1962. The heyday of hair-dos and hair-don'ts, Heartthrobs and hefty girls, hot dates and hip talkers, beatniks and hair hoppers, and one magical potion that keeps it all together.
Release Date: 26 February 1988
Filming Locations: Allentown, Pennsylvania, USA
Box Office Details
Budget: $2,000,000
(estimated)
Opening Weekend: $577,287
(USA)
(28 February 1988)
(79 Screens)
Gross: $6,671,108
(USA)
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Did You Know?
Trivia: John Waters' first PG-rated film.
Goofs:
Anachronisms:
In his advertising spot on the Corny Collins show, Mr. Pinky states that his 'Hefty Hideaway' "clothes for the ample woman" are "available in size 12 to 26" which, in 1988, would have been considered 'plus size'. However, in 1962 sizing, a size 12 was not a 'plus size'. In fact the approximate measurements, in 1962, for a size 12 dress would have been 32-25-34.
Quotes:
[first lines]
Tracy Turnblad:
Come on! Come on! Penny Pingleton:
Okay, all right. Tracy Turnblad:
Will you hurry up?
User Review
Delicious!
Rating:
As a HUGE fan of John Waters films, I have nothing but praise for this
film.
So fun, so campy, so enjoyable ( and you know...there IS a real plot
inside
the film. It's not just music and hair! ) The characters are at once
silly
and loveable, esp. Divine as Edna Turnblatt. And who can't love Ricki
Lake
as the voluptous teen sensation, Tracy Turnblatt!?! It's such a great
movie.
The one liners alone make me howl, as well as the great 60's look they
were
able to COAT the film with ( like hairspray? ) The clothes, the
furniture,
the makeup, EVERYTHING. Stellar pseudo B-movie casting ( Debbie Harry,
Sonny
Bono ).
It's a favorite!!!
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