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“If you remember the ‘60s, you weren’t there.” - Dennis Hopper Yeah, but those were the late ‘60s. Everybody remembers the early ‘60s, that season of innocence when a man could be named Chubby Checker and yet still be a star. The early ‘60s were before the Beatles, LSD, Vietnam and hippies. They were in fact a lot like the late ‘50s, except that the cars were not as stylish and people were joining the Peace Corps, and, in every town large enough to support a TV station, there was a version of “The Hop.” “The Hop” was the name of the show on Channel 3 in Champaign-Urbana, where I grew up. It had other names in other towns, but it always had the same format: a studio full of pimply faced teenagers in ducktails and ponytails, pumping away to midstream rock music under the benevolent supervision of the local Dick Clark clone.

Everybody I knew watched “The Hop.” Nobody I knew ever appeared on it. Where did they get these kids? Did they hire professional teenagers from other towns? Nobody I knew dressed as cool or danced as well as the kids on “The Hop,” and there was a sinking feeling, on those long-ago afternoons in front of the TV, that the parade had passed me by.

John Waters ’ “Hairspray” is a movie about that time and those kids and the sinking feeling. It takes place in 1962 in Baltimore, where a program known as “The Corny Collins Show” is at the center of many local teenage fantasies. The kids on Corny’s show are great dancers with hair piled in grotesque mounds atop their unformed little faces.

They are “popular.” They are on the Council, a quasi-democratic board of teenagers who advise Corny on matters of music and supervise auditions for kids who want to be on the show.

One kid who hungers to be on the show is Tracy ( Ricki Lake ), who is fat, but who can dance better than Amber ( Colleen Fitzpatrick ), who is not. Tracy dances in front of her TV set and knows all the right movies and is tolerated in her fantasies by her parents, who are played by Jerry Stiller and Divine.

The plot of the movie loosely involves Tracy’s attempts to win a talent show and win a place on the Council and the attempts made to stop her by Amber and her ambitious parents ( Sonny Bono and Debbie Harry ). It is some kind of commentary on the decivilizing ‘80s that Stiller and Divine and Bono and Harry, who would have qualified as sideshow exhibits in the real ‘60s, look in the context of this movie like plausible parents.

The supporting case includes various local weirdos, including Pia Zadora as a “Beatnik Chick” (I quote from the credits). If noth ing else is worth the price of admission to this movie, perhaps you will be persuaded by the prospect of Zadora reading from Allen Ginsberg ’s “ Howl .” The movie carries a social message as sort of a sideline: “The Corny Collins Show” is racially segregated, and Tracy and her black friends help to change that situation, gate-crashing a Corny Collins day at the local amusement park. But basically the movie is a bubble-headed series of teenage crises and crushes, alternating with historically accurate choreography of such forgotten dances as the Madison and the Roach.

The movie probably has the most to say to people who were teenagers in the early ‘60s, but they are, I suppose, the people least likely to see this movie. It also will appeal to today’s teenagers, who will find that every generation has its own version of Corny Collins, and its own version of the Council, designed to make you feel like a worthless reject on the trash heap of teenage history. If there is a message in the movie, it is that Waters, who could never in a million years have made the Council, did, after all, survive to make the movie.

Roger Ebert

Roger Ebert was the film critic of the Chicago Sun-Times from 1967 until his death in 2013. In 1975, he won the Pulitzer Prize for distinguished criticism.

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Review: In 'Hairspray,' a celebration of youth and a guileless era

By A.O. Scott

• July 19, 2007

Hairspray Directed by Adam Shankman (US)

That "Hairspray" is good-hearted is no surprise. Adam Shankman's film, lovingly adapted from the Broadway musical, preserves the inclusive, celebratory spirit of John Waters's 1988 movie, in which bigger-boned, darker-skinned and otherwise different folk take exuberant revenge on the bigots and the squares who conspire to keep them down. The surprise may be that this "Hairspray," stuffed with shiny showstoppers, Kennedy-era Baltimore beehives and a heavily padded John Travolta in drag, is actually good.

Appropriately enough for a movie with such a democratic sensibility, there is plenty of credit to go around. Shankman, drawing on long experience as a choreographer, avoids the kind of vulgar overstatement that so often turns the joy of live musical theater into torment at the multiplex. The songs, by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, are usually adequate, occasionally inspired and only rarely inane. And they are sung with impeccable diction and unimpeachable conviction by a lively young cast that includes Nikki Blonsky, Amanda Bynes, Zac Efron and the phenomenally talented Elijah Kelley.

Of course there are better-known, more-seasoned performers on hand as well, notably Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken and Travolta. But "Hairspray" is fundamentally a story about being young — about the triumph of youth culture, about the optimistic, possibly dated belief that the future will improve on the present — and its heart is very much with its teenage heroes and the fresh-faced actors who play them.

Blonsky, a ball of happy, mischievous energy, is Tracy Turnblad, a hefty Baltimore high school student whose dream is to dance with the city's most telegenic teeny-boppers on "The Corny Collins Show." Bynes plays Penny Pingleton, Tracy's timid best friend, whose prim mother (Allison Janney) won't even let Penny watch the show, much less appear on it. Pingleton can scarcely imagine that her daughter will eventually fall for Seaweed ( Kelley), part of a group of black kids whom Tracy befriends in the detention hall after school.

As Penny and Seaweed test the taboo against interracial romance, Tracy and Link Larkin ( Efron), a "Corny Collins" dreamboat, take on the tyranny of slenderness. That "Hairspray" cheerfully conflates racial prejudice with fat-phobia is the measure of its guileless, deliberately simplified politics. Upholding both forms of discrimination is Velma Von Tussle ( Pfeiffer), a television station executive who uses "The Corny Collins Show" — against the wishes of Corny (James Marsden) himself — as a way of maintaining the color line and promoting the celebrity of her blond, smiley daughter, Amber (Brittany Snow).

"Hairspray" does not seriously propose that Tracy and her new African-American friends face equivalent forms of injustice. But it does make the solidarity between them feel like an utterly natural, intuitive response to the meanness and arrogance of their common enemies. "Welcome to the '60s," Tracy sings to her mother, conjuring up the New Frontier hopefulness of that decade's early years rather than the violence and paranoia of its denouement.

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“Hairspray” by Adam Shankman Essay (Movie Review)

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
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This work aims to explore a movie adapted from a play called “Hairspray.” This cinematic work is of particular interest because it is a representation of a well-known theatrical production, which opens in a new light through the prism of the director. The research underlines that “the movie is sometimes used as a medium to show social phenomenon, reflects the common truth of the society, or mirrors someone’s hopes, dreams, and fears” (Purnawan 1). Hence, at first glance, a carefree picture, imbued with fun and carelessness, raises one of the most difficult topics in society, racial discrimination in America. This method of transmitting a fairly relevant issue makes its perception easier while not taking away its significance and weight from it. It is also worth noting that all the basic elements of Aristotle were observed in this work and were put together to create a delightful picture. Everything, from the plot to the characters and the songs, was in harmony with each other. When watching a movie, viewers can easily relate to many problems of the main characters, which brings them even closer to them, thereby creating the best impression of the film. Despite its lightness, musicality, and fun, it also contains moments of sadness and uneasiness. They add complexity and structure to the film, emphasizing that this is serious work and not just a beautiful picture with dancing and singing. Thus, the film “Hairspray” is an excellent example of how a screen adaptation of a play can be a great success and overshadow the original work for some viewers. Despite the fact that not all people prefer musicals, this adaptation is a success with many critics and viewers, which is fully justified by its plot and topics that are raised in it.

Purnawan, Achmadyanta Bagus. “Tracy Turnblad’s Struggle Against Racial Discrimination In The Movie Hairspray.” Diss. Universitas Brawijaya , 2017.

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IvyPanda. (2023, June 17). "Hairspray" by Adam Shankman. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hairspray-by-adam-shankman/

""Hairspray" by Adam Shankman." IvyPanda , 17 June 2023, ivypanda.com/essays/hairspray-by-adam-shankman/.

IvyPanda . (2023) '"Hairspray" by Adam Shankman'. 17 June.

IvyPanda . 2023. ""Hairspray" by Adam Shankman." June 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hairspray-by-adam-shankman/.

1. IvyPanda . ""Hairspray" by Adam Shankman." June 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hairspray-by-adam-shankman/.

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IvyPanda . ""Hairspray" by Adam Shankman." June 17, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/hairspray-by-adam-shankman/.

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Movie Review: Hairspray (2007)

• General Disdain
• Movie Reviews
• 5 responses
• --> July 26, 2007

Hairspray is an updated compilation of the John Waters classically campy film and the award winning Broadway musical (both of the same name). And while I very much liked the original (at least what I can recall of it), I had my reservations about the remake. That’s because remakes usually suck. Thankfully, from the moment the movie opened those fears were laid to rest.

The movie takes place in a segregated Baltimore in the 1960’s. It gets things moving with an upbeat song and dance number performed by our, oh so chunky heroine, Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky). She’s a perky teenager with dreams of dancing on The Corny Collin’s Dance Show, hosted by none other than Corny Collins (James Marsden, “ X-Men 3 – The Last Stand ”). She’s got a few things going against her though — she’s fat; her mother Edna (John Travolta, “ Wild Hogs ”) has a major hang-up about her own weight and doesn’t want her daughter ridiculed; and there’s a ruthless and conniving producer Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer, “ I Could Never Be Your Woman ”) standing in her way.

Obstacles be damned though. Tracy futilely tries out for the show anyway. Aside from being made fun of by the current crop of dancers, of which Amber Von Tussle (Brittany Snow, “ The Pacifier ”) leads, she gets herself detention for skipping class. Who knew detention could be so worthwhile, as while she is there, she copies the dance styles of Seaweed J. Stubbs (Elijah Kelley) and other black classmates. Armed with new found confidence and a helping hand from Link Larkin (Zac Efron, “High School Musical”), she manages to get noticed and added to the dancer roster. From her new vantage point she looks to enact change.

I’ll agree that on the surface Hairspray can appear to just be a whimsical teenage musical, but underneath I can assure you, it is actually a much deeper feature. It’s really about triumph over adversity. It’s about destroying ill-founded mores. Tracy, breaks down the stigma that fat folks can’t be beautiful (aren’t we all sexy things beneath the skin?). She also manages to bust through the walls her mother has erected — essentially freeing her from her weight induced prison. Later in the movie, she stands along side Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah, “Last Holiday”) to call for racial equality and seamless integration on the dance show.

Aside from some very entertaining song and dance routines the best part of the movie is the casting. John Travolta in drag was the most intriguing. I’m not entirely sure what made the director, Adam Shankman, decide on Travolta, but the decision was brilliant. He’s perfect for the part and he is clearly having the time of his life doing it. Placing a complete unknown in the lead part was another interesting decision that works flawlessly. Nikki Blonsky carries herself like a seasoned professional. It was also great to see Christopher Walken (“ Wedding Crashers ”) — 90% of what he touches is gold.

The only detracting point of the movie is there are a few scenes that seemed out of place and slowed the flow of the movie to a molasses flow. Most notably, the lovey-dovey number between Tracy’s parents was a tad grating. Also, the final act, while entertaining, was drawn out ten minutes too long. Basically, I’m saying a 110+ minute movie shouldn’t have hit the 90 minute mark.

I’m also instructing all the guys being asked to see Hairspray to suck it up. Yeah, you won’t win any cool points with your drinking buddies if they find out you’ve gone to see it, but what you’ll win from your significant other you can’t put a value on. Trust me, she’ll (or he’ll) love you long time for the sacrifice. Besides, I actually believe you’ll come out of the theaters a happier person.

Tagged: competition , dancer , high school , racism , relationship

I'm an old, miserable fart set in his ways. Some of the things that bring a smile to my face are (in no particular order): Teenage back acne, the rain on my face, long walks on the beach and redneck women named Francis. Oh yeah, I like to watch and criticize movies.

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'Movie Review: Hairspray (2007)' have 5 comments

July 27, 2007 @ 7:16 am Tina

Great review. I’m looking forward to seeing this, this weekend.

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July 31, 2007 @ 12:06 pm Fletch

To respond to your advice to me to give this a shot, I just can’t do it. Maaaaybe on DVD.

Remember, Chicago won Best Picture, and I can’t stand that, either. Outside of Moulin Rouge and none other than I can recall off the top of my head, musicals make me ill. As does John Travolta these days, and that’s not even in drag!

July 31, 2007 @ 1:03 pm General Disdain

One thing sets Hairspray apart from the movies you mentioned — it doesn’t take itself seriously. Everyone in the film is having a great time. I couldn’t help but smile through most of it.

As for Travolta, I’m not his biggest fan either. What he does have going for him is he’s seemed to have lost that elitist attitude he was exhibiting a few years ago. This has translated well to most of his recent films.

November 19, 2007 @ 12:13 am Sirius Lee

Travolta in drag was worth the price of admission. Everything else was icing on the cake. This is one movie adaptation that did justice to the stage musical it was based on.

January 6, 2008 @ 12:41 pm Rylee

I disagree with the review of this very entertaining movie. First of all, yes, I agree that the scene with the mother and father, (John Travolta and Christopher Walken) had no point, but the end scene was great! I love the casting and they all did a wonderful job! I give big props to Nikki Blonsky because she did a tremendous job, with not being in any other movies! Great Job! I would have rated this movie much higher!

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Hairspray (2007), common sense media reviewers.

Infectiously fun musical with a message.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this movie.

The movie's major theme is seeing beyond peopl

Tracy marches in favor of integration.

The Baltimore police push and shove African-Americ

Link and Tracy kiss; Tracy sings about how she won

Insults about Tracy's weight: "chubby com

Just hairspray...

Teens smoke in the girls' bathroom; adults smo

Parents need to know that this musical adaptation of the Broadway hit will appeal to tweens thanks to stars like Amanda Bynes and High School Musical 's Zac Efron. It's a bit tamer than the John Waters original -- there's less cursing and fighting -- but the themes are the same: accepting people'…

Positive Messages

The movie's major theme is seeing beyond people's looks or skin color.

Positive Role Models

Violence & scariness.

The Baltimore police push and shove African-American demonstrators marching for integration. Mrs. Pingleton ties Penny to her bed.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Violence & Scariness in your kid's entertainment guide.

Sex, Romance & Nudity

Link and Tracy kiss; Tracy sings about how she won't "go all the way/but I'll go pretty far" and "French kissing" her crush. Seaweed and Penny kiss and dance together, as do Amber and Link and Tracy and Link. Mrs. Von Tussle throws herself on Mr. Turnblad; Mr. & Mrs. Turnblad embrace.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Sex, Romance & Nudity in your kid's entertainment guide.

Insults about Tracy's weight: "chubby communist," "whale," "fattie," etc. Use of the term "lawn jockeys" in reference to African Americans, as well as the formerly common (and, at the time, accepted) word "Negro." Other racially charged terms include "cracker boy," "race mixing," etc. Penny's mom says "whore" and "devil child."

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Language in your kid's entertainment guide.

Products & Purchases

Drinking, drugs & smoking.

Teens smoke in the girls' bathroom; adults smoke in the teachers' lounge.

Did you know you can flag iffy content? Adjust limits for Drinking, Drugs & Smoking in your kid's entertainment guide.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this musical adaptation of the Broadway hit will appeal to tweens thanks to stars like Amanda Bynes and High School Musical 's Zac Efron. It's a bit tamer than the John Waters original -- there's less cursing and fighting -- but the themes are the same: accepting people's differences, whether because of their looks or their skin color. Kids younger than 11 will miss much of the meaning while still being entertained by the characters and the production. Some of the song lyrics are a tad sexually suggestive: "I won't go all the way/but I'll go pretty far" and "The darker the berry/the sweeter the juice" are just two examples. Since it's set in the early '60s, African Americans are called "Negroes" (and, in one case, "lawn jockeys"). There are a lot of weight-based insults and one case of parental abuse: Mrs. Pingleton literally ties Penny to her bed and calls her a "devil child." In one scene, three "bad girls" are shown smoking in the school bathroom, while adults sit in a smoke-filled teachers' lounge. To stay in the loop on more movies like this, you can sign up for weekly Family Movie Night emails .

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• Kids say (117)

Based on 30 parent reviews

Inappropriate for younger kids...

Parent of a 12 year old, what's the story.

HAIRSPRAY starts with an infectious song -- "Good Morning Baltimore" -- that sets the cheery tone of Adam Shankman 's feature-film adaptation of the Broadway adaptation of John Waters ' campy 1988 comedy. The update, also set in 1962 Baltimore, has slightly less kitsch than the original -- but, thanks to the fabulous soundtrack and adorable cast, even more charm. Newcomer Nikki Blonsky makes heroine Tracy Turnblad zaftig and adorable. Tracy doesn't let her plus-sized body keep her from dancing like a pro, trying out for the local TV station's American Bandstand copycat The Corny Collins Show , and crushing on the show's dreamy hunk Link Larkin ( High School Musical star Zac Efron ). Her favorite episodes aren't the lily-white ones hosted by Corny ( James Marsden ) but the "Negro Day" specials hosted by Motormouth Maybelle (a big and blonde Queen Latifah ). When Tracy finally lands a spot on the show -- much to the chagrin of skeletal station manager/racist ice queen Velma Von Tussle ( Michelle Pfeiffer ) -- the first thing she tells Corny is that she wishes "every day could be Negro Day." Tracy develops such a faithful following that she convinces her oversized mom, Edna ( John Travolta in layers of drag), to leave the house for the first time and be her manager.

Is It Any Good?

Director (and choreographer) Shankman captures both the essence of the Broadway show's magic and the original film's timeless camp value to create a memorable movie musical. Shankman is best known for formulaic romantic and family comedies, but he successfully achieved here what 2005's The Producers utterly failed to do. (Oh, and that cutie pie Efron definitely helps, too.)

Travolta should consider his role a gift, since he's more enchanting as Mrs. Turnblad than he's been on screen in more than a decade. And as Mrs. Turnblad's husband, Wilbur, Christopher Walken again perfects his mastery of slow talking and soft shoeing. Waters himself couldn't have cast a better mom and pop odd couple. Some of the best songs and moves belong to the "Negro Day" dancers, like smooth-talking Seaweed (Elijah Kelly, who deserves an Efron-esque following of his own after this stand-out performance). And Queen Latifah's ballad "I Know Where I've Been" touchingly accompanies a civil-rights march calling for on-air desegregation.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

Families can talk about prejudice and racism. Mrs. Von Tussle assumes that Tracy isn't talented because of her size, but Tracy proves her wrong. Tracy's determination and self esteem are strong despite her weight. How are overweight kids discriminated against today? What about minorities? Even though there's no more segregation, do kids of color get picked on for being different? Kids: What does Tracy teach us about judging people (and their abilities) by their looks? Families who've seen the original (or the Broadway show) can also talk about how this movie is similar to -- and different from -- the other incarnations.

Movie Details

• In theaters : July 19, 2007
• On DVD or streaming : November 20, 2007
• Cast : John Travolta , Michelle Pfeiffer , Nikki Blonsky
• Director : Adam Shankman
• Inclusion Information : Gay directors, Female actors, Gay actors
• Studio : New Line
• Genre : Musical
• Topics : Music and Sing-Along
• Run time : 120 minutes
• MPAA rating : PG
• MPAA explanation : language, some suggestive content and momentary teen smoking.
• Last updated : May 14, 2024

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Where to Watch

Rent Hairspray on Fandango at Home, Prime Video, or buy it on Fandango at Home, Prime Video.

What to Know

Hairspray is an energetic, wholly entertaining musical romp; a fun Summer movie with plenty of heart. Its contagious songs will make you want to get up and start dancing.

Critics Reviews

Audience reviews, cast & crew.

Adam Shankman

John Travolta

Edna Turnblad

Nikki Blonsky

Tracy Turnblad

Amanda Bynes

Penny Pingleton

Christopher Walken

Wilbur Turnblad

Link Larkin

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• Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.
• Tracy Turnblad, a 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 teen regular. With the help of her friend Seaweed, Tracy is chosen, angering evil dance queen Amber Von Tussle and her mother Velma. Tracy then decides that it's not fair that black kids can only dance on the show once a month (on "Negro Day"), 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. — leoprez1030
• It's 1962 and teenagers Tracy Turnblad and her friend Penny Pingleton are avid Corny Collins fans. When the chance to dance on the show is publicized, Tracy jumps on the opportunity. Not only does her dancing skills attract Corny Collins, but also the attention of teen heartthrob Link Larkin. But not everyone is happy with Tracy's joining the show. The show's manager, Velma von Tussle, will do anything to oust Tracy, even if it has to include Tracy's friends Seaweed and Motormouth Maybelle. — Film_Fan
• In May of 1962, Baltimore teenager Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonksy) prepares for school while displaying optimistic appreciation of her drab neighborhood in which she sees so much beauty ("Good Morning Baltimore"). Tracy, who has a passion for dance and bouffant hairstyles, is something of a social outcast among her classmates because of her chubbiness, but her best friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) shares Tracy's obsession with the after-school dance program The Corny Collins Show, which features a group of teenage dancers known as the Council Kids and is sponsored by Ultra-Clutch brand hairspray. The show is broadcast live on Baltimore's WYZT station and, despite the progressive opinions of Corny Collins (James Marsden) himself, remains a segregated program featuring only white dancers except for the last Tuesday of every month, which is designated "Negro Day." Tracy and Penny rush to Tracy's house after school to watch the show ("The Nicest Kids In Town"), much to the annoyance of Tracy's mother Edna (John Travolta), who works from home as a laundress and refuses to leave the house because she is ashamed of her voluptuous size. Edna shows concern for her daughter's interest in dance, fearing that people will mistreat her because of her weight. Penny's paralyzingly strict mother Prudy (Allison Janney) also disapproves of The Corny Collins Show, but mainly due to her own racism and the fact that pop music is becoming more and more influenced by R&B styles. Sharing Prudy Pingleton's disdain for "race music" is Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer), the manager of WYZT and domineering mother of the snobby, aggressive Corny Collins dancer Amber (Brittany Snow). Though Corny Collins defends his music choices and believes the show should be integrated, Velma refuses to consider it and constantly pushes for her daughter to be featured above all the other dancers. Several of the teenagers on The Corny Collins Show attend Tracy and Penny's high school, and Tracy in particular is star-struck and swoony whenever she catches sight of Link Larkin (Zac Efron), the show's main heartthrob and Amber Von Tussle's boyfriend. Tracy is ecstatic when Corny Collins announces that one of their female dancers is taking a leave of absence (for "just nine months") and invites any interested girls to come to the station for an audition. Though Edna attempts to talk Tracy out of the idea, Tracy's father Wilbur (Christopher Walken), a joke-shop proprietor, is more supportive and encourages his daughter to go after her dreams. Tracy and Penny cut school the next day, and following a brief dance test,Tracy is dismissed by Velma Von Tussle due to her weight and her support of integration. Velma is blissfully detached during the audition process as she reminisces about her glory days as a pageant queen ("The Legend of Miss Baltimore Crabs"). Dejected, Tracy arrives back at school and is promptly given detention for cutting class. Her spirits lift, however, when she discovers that the detention room is where many of the school's black students congregate and dance to R&B music. She befriends Seaweed J. Stubbs (Elijah Kelly), the group's best dancer, whom she recognizes as a performer on the monthly Negro Day, and learns some of his dance moves. Link Larkin happens by the classroom door and sees Tracy's dance skills. Impressed, he enters the room and informs her that Corny Collins is hosting a hop, and that she is easily talented enough for Corny to select as a new Council member. As the school bell rings and the kids disperse, Link is accidentally jostled into Tracy, causing Tracy to have a series of euphoric daydreams about her interaction with him ("I Can Hear the Bells"). Teenagers, both black and white, arrive at Corny Collins' public dance, though the dance floor is divided by a rope for segregation. Link is performing a high-energy song ("Ladies' Choice"), and Tracy spots Seaweed among the black dancers. He tells her to borrow some of the moves he taught her, and impress Corny Collins. Tracy quickly catches the attention of Corny (and Link) with her dancing, and, to the horror of Velma Von Tussle, is chosen as the new Council member for The Corny Collins Show. Tracy's parents, as well as Penny and Seaweed, are delighted. Negro Day arrives, hosted by Seaweed's mother, televison DJ Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah). The biased station views, as well as the surprise of Tracy's admission to the Council, are echoed in a song written by the black dancers who are then chastised by Velma for performing it after the white dancers performed a cover version ("The New Girl in Town"). Tracy becomes a local celebrity and one of the most popular dancers on the show, despite Velma and Amber's disgust. Mr. Spritzer (Paul Dooley), the CEO of Ultra-Clutch hairspray, first dislikes Tracy and calls her a "chubby communist" after she announces on-air that, if she could, she would make every day Negro Day. Spritzer soon changes his mind when Tracy causes a huge boost in ratings and sales. Wilbur begins selling Tracy-themed merchandise in his joke shop, the Hardy-Har Hut, and Edna finally realizes that Tracy's weight did not prevent her from reaching her goal.Tracy soon receives an offer from Mr. Pinky (Jerry Stiller), the owner of a local plus-size dress shop, to be their official spokesgirl. Tracy is excited by all the sudden attention, but Edna suggests they should find an agent to take charge of Tracy's affairs. After much coercing, Tracy convinces Edna to be her agent, which at first terrified Edna because it would require her to be seen outside their house. Edna finally agrees to accompany her daughter to meet Mr. Pinky and go over a contract. Tracy assures her mother that times are changing, and that people who look different are finally beginning to be accepted ("Welcome to the Sixties"). After both Tracy and Edna receive makeovers at Mr. Pinky's shop, they stop at a diner to celebrate, with Edna feeling more confident than she had been in years. Amber and Velma enter the diner, and Tracy is forced to introduce them to her mother. Velma hurts Edna with a thinly-veiled insult about her new dress, reducing Edna to tears, but Tracy explains after the Von Tussles leave that Velma's motive for breaking them down is the threat that Tracy now presents to Amber winning the annual Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant the following month. At school, Tracy is more popular than ever before, and students deliberately land themselves with detention slips just to see her after school. Link also becomes disenchanted with Amber's cruel pranks and gossip, and begins growing closer to Tracy. Tracy introduces Penny to Seaweed, and there is an instant attraction. Seaweed invites Tracy, Penny, and Link to a platter party at his mother's record store after school, and introduces them to his younger sister, Little Inez (Taylor Parks). Seaweed leads the black teenagers in expressing their individuality and spirit in the face of social prejudice ("Run and Tell That"). A lively party is underway at Motormouth Maybelle's record shop, with all of the Negro Day dancers in attendance ("Big, Blonde, and Beautiful"). Penny, Link, and Tracy are at first nervous, but soon enjoy themselves. Tracy and Link express similar views on the integration of The Corny Collins Show, and Link hints that he has chosen Tracy over Amber at last. At the Von Tussle's opulent home, Amber sobs to her mother about losing Link to Tracy. Velma promises to make it all better, as she is in control of Link's singing career. In the meantime, Amber makes an anonymous call to Edna, ousting Tracy's current whereabouts, which causes Edna to rush over to Maybelle's shop and attempt to take Tracy home at once. Maybelle invites Edna to stay, enticing her with the enormous table of food, and Edna gives in. After asking Maybelle what the party is being held for, Maybelle sadly explains to Edna and all in attendance that Velma Von Tussle had officially cancelled Negro Day on The Corny Collins Show. Tracy, Penny, Link, Seaweed, and the dancers are outraged, and Tracy suggests that they stage a protest march on the WYZT studio. Maybelle wholeheartedly agrees, as do the dancers, but Link explains to Tracy that he is scheduled to sing in front of talent scouts at the upcoming Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant, and that participating in the march might damage his budding career. He apologizes with sincerity, but Tracy is terribly hurt. With Edna and Tracy not yet home, Velma dons her sexiest dress and introduces herself to Wilbur Turnblad at the Hardy-Har Hut. Though her intention is to seduce Wilbur and be caught by Edna, likely leading to Tracy leaving the show, Wilbur only cares about peddling his precious joke items and remains impervious to Velma's advances. Edna and Tracy arrive home, and Tracy sadly goes to bed. Edna, invigorated by the food from Maybelle's party, spruces herself up and goes down to the joke shop in search of her husband ("Big, Blonde, and Beautiful Reprise"). Edna arrives to see Velma forcing Wilbur into a compromising position, and Edna storms out in fury. Back at their house. after changing the locks and sobbing for hours, Edna forbids Tracy from ever appearing on The Corny Collins Show again. That night, Tracy visits her father, who is sleeping in the joke shop on a bed of whoopie cushions. He assures her that nothing happened between him and Velma, and that his only love is Edna. Tracy explains her fears about the future (though she makes no mention of the protest march), and Wilbur once again comforts her and encourages her to pursue what she knows is right. Tracy returns to bed, and Wilbur reconciles with his wife ("You're Timeless to Me"). The following morning, Edna attempts to wake Tracy to tell her the argument is over, but find she has escaped to join the protest. Fearing for Tracy's safety, Edna sets out after her. Tracy meets up with the protesters, who disperse picket signs among themselves and set off down the street, led by Motormouth Maybelle ("I Know Where I've Been"). Edna finally catches up and tries to talk Tracy into coming home, but Tracy refuses. They soon reach a police roadblock and are curtly instructed by a policeman to cease their protest. Tracy is angered by his rude treatment of Maybelle, and taps the officer with her picket sign when his back is turned. The officer immediately accuses Tracy of assault, and chaos ensues as he orders his men to arrest all the protesters. Tracy flees to Penny's house, and Penny secretly hides her in their basement fallout shelter until Prudy discovers them and calls the police on Tracy. Tracy is locked in the basement room while Penny is bound with a jump rope in her bedroom by her mother as punishment for harboring a fugitive. Soon afterwards, Seaweed climbs into Penny's room, frees her from her binds, and confesses his love. They break Tracy out of the basement window and escape by car. Link, feeling guilty for not supporting Tracy, visits the Turnblads, who are frantic with worry about Tracy's whereabouts. As he examines Tracy's bedroom, Link realizes his true feelings for her ("Without Love"). Once together again, the teenagers (along with Edna and Wilbur) concoct a plan to crash the Miss Teenage Hairspray pageant the next day. Velma, knowing of Tracy's involvement with the protest, stations police around the studio the next day as the pageant begins. The security is shown pictures of Tracy and given explicit orders to prevent her from entering the building. The teenagers put their plan into action, infiltrating the studio and executing an elaborate trick to smuggle Tracy inside without the police realizing. Tracy arrives onstage just in time for the dance competition, and is joined by Link, who chooses Little Inez as his partner, no longer caring about the talent scouts in the audience, but rather about bringing The Corny Collins Show a step closer to integration ("You Can't Stop the Beat"). The phone-in votes increase dramatically after Inez's performance, and Inez is crowned Miss Teenage Hairspray, awarding her the position of lead dancer on the show, and officially integrating it at last. Velma is furious, and is caught on camera admitting to her daughter that she rigged the pageant so Amber would be sure to win. She is immediately fired by Mr. Spritzer. As the celebratory finale dance reaches its pinnacle, Wilbur encourages Edna to take the stage herself, which she does with great enthusiasm. Penny and Seaweed kiss passionately, causing Penny's mother to have a fit of horror as she watches the pageant from home. Tracy and Link finally have their first kiss, as a better future begins to unfold around them.

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"Hairspray": A Discussion Guide for Educators and Students

It’s been nearly three decades since John Waters brought us his film, Hairspray , in 1988. From there, the story of Tracy Turnblad and her friends and family has lived on through the original film, the Broadway adaptation in 2002 and subsequent presence in school and community theater productions, the remake of the film in 2007 and NBC’s 2016 Hairspray LIVE .  

Set in racially-segregated 1960s Baltimore, Hairspray remains relevant to today’s audiences as it reflects many current events and issues in U.S. society and can be used to address a variety of themes, including, racism and bias of all kinds, body image, individuality and identity, student activism, community-police interactions and media bias. And, of course, it is a lot of fun.

However you watch Hairspray —live, recorded, on stage or on screen—the story is full of potential inspiration, teachable moments and conversation starters for middle and high school educators and students, alike. Click HERE for suggested discussion questions to use in your school.

HOW TO USE HAIRSPRAY IN YOUR SCHOOL

EDUCATORS AND COLLEAGUES: Consider discussing Hairspray at a staff meeting, PD session or professional learning community (PLC). Ask educators to watch Hairspray ahead of time or focus on a particular theme or song that you can watch/listen to together. Pick a topic or two that seem particularly relevant to your school community and use the educator questions HERE to guide the conversation.

IN THE CLASSROOM: Bring Hairspray into the classroom through discussions and assignments aligned with your existing curriculum. Possible connections include social movements of the 1960s, identity and bias, music theory, media literacy and current events. Depending on the technology and time available, consider showing clips or listening to a song from the soundtrack in class, followed by a discussion using the student questions HERE to guide the conversation.

STUDENTS AND GSAs: Hairspray , the film, play and soundtrack, can be a great conversation starter for your GSA, Diversity Club, Leadership Class or other student group. Try having a club movie night, afterschool screening or watch/listen to clips or songs during a regularly-scheduled meeting. Consider inviting other student clubs or groups to join you. Pick a theme or two ahead of time that seems most relevant to your school community and use the student discussion questions HERE to guide the conversation.

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• Theatre Journal

Hairspray (review)

• David Bateman
• Johns Hopkins University Press
• Volume 55, Number 4, December 2003
• pp. 719-722
• 10.1353/tj.2003.0148
• View Citation

Additional Information

Hairspray. Book by Mark O'donnell and Thomas Meehan, Music by Marc Shaiman, Lyrics by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman. Based upon the New Line Cinema Film Written and Directed by John Waters. Neil Simon Theater, New York. 15 August 2002.

When the lights come up on Marissa Jaret Winokur in the opening number of the musical version of John Waters' film Hairspray, one is immediately engaged by the combination of classic [End Page 719] [Begin Page 721] set design (a vertical bed) and a fresh Broadway voice that punches out the all important first number with the distinction of an Ethel Merman or a Carol Channing. Winokur's sharp, infectious vocals strikingly intone the "Oh, Oh, Oh" of Hello Baltimore and begin to create a powerful persona for the Tracy Turnblad character first interpreted by Rickie Lake in the 1980s film. Winokur's resemblance to Lake paves the way for the much-anticipated entrance of Harvey Fierstein in the role of Tracy's mother, originated on screen by drag queen extraordinary Divine. Fierstein's costume and wig, identical to Divine's in the film, inspires immediate applause and helps to establish the nostalgic, citational tone of the overall mise-en-scène.

The primary narrative of Waters' original script focuses on race relations through the gaze of a group of 1960's teenagers. Winokur's role—the pivotal anti-racist voice in the piece—quickly becomes the lone dissenting character who motivates other white teenagers to support her as she attempts to integrate an all-white television dance show. When Tracy exclaims to a young male black dancer that she wishes every day was "Negro Day," he replies, "At my house it is." The comic lines centered on race in the musical are simultaneously amusing and disturbing. Later in the piece an entire song is devoted to the especial sweetness of a blackberry, and of course, not to miss a trick, the score includes a turn on an old sexualized racial cliché when the character of Penny exclaims in song "Now I've tasted chocolate and I'm never going back."

The racialization of the book and lyrics subtly intersect with Tracy's plight as a young woman burdened by her physical size. As an aspiring dancer on the Corny Collins show Tracy is heckled by slimmer, blonder women in the number Miss Baltimore Crabs . This connects nicely to a song later in the show, performed by one of the black teen-agers' mothers entitled Big, Blonde, and Beautiful . What seems on the surface to be a simple feel-good musical about a group of rebellious teenagers becomes a complex arrangement of signifiers that construct complex analogies among a variety of subject positions. Perhaps the most disturbing racialized lyric, Cooties , goes overboard as it establishes a racist connection between color and personal hygiene:

They came from way far out in outer space and with her help they may destroy the human race

. . . black, white, red, green every color in between dresses like a circus clown somebody oughta hose her down

grew up in a cootie zoo I bet her two-ton Mama's got 'em too

The racialized aspect of the musical, although disturbing at times, ultimately constructs, as much as a musical of this kind can, a thought-provoking statement on how far we have come as a continent that continues to struggle with civil rights. The feminine, wholesome costuming of the young black teenager Little Inez, one of the first black characters to be dismissed from the all-white dance chorus of the Corny Collins show, makes a strong intertextual connection to Norman Rockwell's painting The Problem We All Live With . Race relations are dealt with very seriously and very playfully in this production that could be subtitled— The Problem we all sing-a-long with .

An extraordinary cast of singers and dancers moves effortlessly across the stage through a series of plot-driven scenes that integrate song and dance in classic Broadway style. Distinctions made between various styles of movement are clarified by less obviously...

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Hairspray Film Review

Salma Bashar 10X4

Bad Hair Day? Here’s Hairspray!

Hairspray has taken the spotlight pushing the all time classics Grease, Chicago and Mamma Mia out of the way. With a mixture of stupendous actors playing unexpected roles Hairspray wows an audience of all ages. With spectacular dance sequences, addictive tunes, big hair and bright, funky costumes it surely is the musical to watch.

This remake of the 1988 comical version, which was produced by John Walters who before wrote and directed other comedy movies which include Pink Flamingos and Polyester, is the best yet. Director Adam Shankman, who also directed well known movies such as The Wedding Planner and Cheaper by the Dozen 2, created a hilarious atmosphere as well as making serious issues heard through music and dance.

Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) is mad about dance, knows ALL the latest moves and is obsessed with The Corny Collins Show. Running after school with best friend Penny Pingleton [Amanda Bynes], to watch The Corny Collins Show they drool over Link Larkin played by Zac Efron the obvious heartthrob. With Edna Turnblad [John Travolta], Tracy’s mom in the background ironing away the girls twist and turn to the incredible dance moves whilst singing along.

This is a preview of the whole essay

At the high school dance Tracy wows the audience particularly Corny Collins [James Marsden] and sets fire to the heart of Link Larkin with the hip dance moves she got from Seaweed [Elijah Kelley] a fellow black friend who then goes out with Penny. Soon Tracy recognises the inequality when black and white kids were put into separate classes and the disapproving atmosphere surrounding the relationship between Penny and Seaweed. This division motivates Tracy to march through Baltimore alongside the shows co-host Motormouth Maybelle [Queen Latifah] and other African-American residents to fight for integration after the show cancels ‘Negro Day’. However Tracy becomes the headline on every news channel as she hits a police officer with a signpost, does this ruin the chance of her winning Miss Teenage Hairspray? With Velma Von Tussle [Michelle Pfeiffer] and daughter Amber [Brittany Snow] trying to do everything possible to stop Tracy from winning the crown and auditioning for the show by insulting her about her weight it doesn’t stop her from carrying on to follow her dream. But will Miss Tracy Turnblad be crowned Miss Teenage Hairspray? You’ll just have to watch and find out!

With a minority of people commenting on Hairspray in a negative way I personally think it’s a movie that’s been a successful hit and one that people will never forget. I enjoyed the music and dance moves mostly because the lyrics were catchy and the dance moves were cheesy enough to laugh at but imitate at the same time. I also liked the fact that they were obsessed with their hair and had funky hairstyles partly because they were outrageous and VERY different to hairstyles fashioned now obviously because it was set in the 60’s.

However they were actually a very few negative things that catched my eye. These things were everyone was just too cheesy. I didn’t like these things because it didn’t make it as realistic as it should’ve been. Another negative thing was everyone had no imperfections, they all had a bright, big and white smile, and this made it look fake and unreal. The songs carried on forever and made you think it was never going to end. This was put on the negative side because you’d get bored and annoyed and wish it was all over and got the point.

Moving on to the characters played by actors you wouldn’t expect. The characters were, in my view, ok. Why? Because they weren’t too over the top although they were all cheesy. Tracy Turnblad was a character that was music and dance mad. I quite liked her and Nikki Blonsky did a good job by showing us how vibrant and hilarious Tracy was. I like that she always had a positive vibe around her and made people around her feel themselves without trying to be someone you’re not. Link Larkin was a character that wasn’t going to be pushed around by his girlfriend. He was the perfect guy to fall for. There are numerous reasons why starting from; he had the perfect smile, perfect hair well basically perfect everything from head to toe. I think Zac Efron was suited for the character he played because in every movie role he played he was known as the heartthrob so this was no different.

One of my favourite characters was Penny Pingleton. This was because she was a sweet, soft character that everyone would wish she was their friend. She was fun to hang around with and made no bad remarks to any sort of people. In the film she has a relationship with Seaweed, who is black, and her mother finds out but however much her mother hates it she sticks to him and stands up for herself gaining confidence. Another one of my favourite characters were Motormouth Maybelle because she was a strong black woman that stood up for what was right and also a very sweet, positive one that welcomed anyone. She was a character that never gave up and encouraged people to do what they dreamt of no matter how hard it was to get there.

Overall, I think it is recommended from me at least that YOU watch Hairspray. It is one that you’ll never forget and with critics pushing the classics; Grease, Mamma Mia and Chicago out of the spotlight it surely is a satisfying musical to watch and sink into with whatever audience. So I say ‘Go for it’ with two thumbs up, with sprinkles and a cherry added on top.

        -

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• Word Count 973
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• Subject English

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Description by Wikipedia

Hairspray is a 2007 musical romantic comedy film based on the 2002 Broadway musical of the same name, which in turn was based on John Waters' 1988 comedy film of the same name. Adapted from both Waters' 1988 script and Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell's book for the stage musical by screenwriter Leslie Dixon, the 2007 film version of Hairspray was directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman and has an ensemble cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, Amanda Bynes, James Marsden, Queen Latifah, Brittany Snow, Zac Efron, Elijah Kelley, Allison Janney and Nikki Blonsky in her feature film debut. Set in 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, the film follows the "pleasantly plump" teenager Tracy Turnblad as she pursues stardom as a dancer on a local TV show and rallies against racial segregation.

The film began development in 2004, and Dixon reworked Meehan and O'Donnell's first draft of the screenplay to tone down the musical's campiness. In 2005, Shankman agreed to direct the film. Composer/lyricist Marc Shaiman and lyricist Scott Wittman reworked their songs from the Broadway musical for the film's soundtrack, and also wrote four new songs for the film. Principal photography commenced in September 2006 and ended in December of that year; filming took place on locations in Toronto, Ontario and Hamilton, Ontario in Canada and on soundstages at Toronto's Showline Studios. Recording sessions for the film's songs and soundtrack took place in Los Angeles, California in the United States.

Hairspray premiered on July 13, 2007 at the Mann Village Theater and was released on July 20, 2007 in the United States. The film was a critical and financial success, breaking the record for biggest sales at opening weekend for a movie musical, which the film held until July 2008 when it was surpassed by Mamma Mia! and later High School Musical 3: Senior Year in October. Hairspray went on to become the sixth highest grossing musical film in US cinema history, behind the film adaptations of Grease, Chicago, and Mamma Mia!, and stands as one of the most critically and commercially successful musical films of the last decade. Available in a variety of formats, Hairspray's Region 1 home video release took place on November 20, 2007. USA Network purchased the broadcast rights to Hairspray and was scheduled to debut the film on cable television in February 2010, but in the end it did not broadcast that month, instead the film was pushed back and premiered on USA on July 24, 2010, with sister channel Bravo also showing it multiple times, and in February 2011 aired on ABC for over-the-air broadcasts.

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