Hairspray

USA 2007, 117 minutes
Dir. Adam Shankman
Rating: [PG]
Genres: Comedy / Musical, Dance

Feat. John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Elijah Kelly, Zac Efron, Brittany Snow

Aroview: Sweet, plump Tracey Turnblad (newcomer Nikki Blonsky) twists and do-wops her way into her own dream - a place in the core cast of the Corny Collins dance show - and into U.S. civil rights history, in this toe-tapping, butt-wiggling, beehive-jiggling 1960s period musical.

Adpated from the Broadway show, the '07 edition lacks the manic spoofiness and B-grade bubblegum tang of the 1988 John Waters original. Put through one too many foamy commercial rinses, it's like some of the political undertones have come out along the way.

Nonetheless, this sure is feelgood fun, and worth seeing for the spectacle of a fat-suited and in-drag John Travolta in the Divine role as Mrs Turnblad, as well as a witty Waters cameo.