Hairspray (2007, John Travolta, Zac Efron)

Published

5 years ago

November 7, 2018

You know one would never have guessed that underneath all of John Travolta’s cool moves that there was a woman of a comfortable build (to misquote Alexander McCall Smith) quite literally bursting to get out. And a superb job he does of it too.

Hairspray has quite a long pedigree actually, dating back to the eighties when agent provacateur John Waters made his highest profile movie yet (although still quite low budget) with fellow cross dresser Devine in the Travolta role and a star making turn from a young Rikki Lake. Always something of a cult hit Hairspray was then revitalised as a major stage musical and it is this, rather than the original movie, that has prompted this all star big budget version.

It’s 1960’s Baltimore and newcomer Nicole Blonsky is top notch as chubby teenager Tracy Turnblad and the her sole aim in life is to appear on The Corny Collins alongside her best friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) but she has a rival in the shape of Amber Von Tussle (Brittany Snow) and her mother Michelle Pfeiffer. Events take a turn though when Tracy discovers that racism is alive and well on the show and decides to do something about it.

Definitely a fun movie and an enjoyable one to boot also manages to say a little something about the changing of the times, there are some very groovy casting choices especially in the shape of Christopher Walken who is, these days, pretty much cornering the market in eccentricity.

production details
GB, US | 117 minutes | 2007
Director: Adam Shankman
Script: Leslie Dixon, John Waters,

cast
John Travolta as Edna Turnblad
Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle
Christopher Walken as Wilbur Turnblad
James Marsden as Corny Collins
Queen Latifah as Motormouth Maybelle
Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad
Zac Efron as Link Larkin
Amanda Bynes as Penny Pingleton
Elijah Kelley as Seaweed
Brittany Snow as Amber Von Tussle
Allison Janney as Prudy Pringleton
Taylor Parks as Little Inez
Jayne Eastwood as Miss Wimsey
Paul Dooley as Mr. Spritzer
Jerry Stiller as Mr. Pinky
Darren Frost as Cameraman
John Waters as Flasher
Joe Parro as Teacher
Nick Loren as Cop Nick
Bryan Hindle as Link’s Backup Singer
Sheldon Smith as Link’s Backup Singer
Greg Farkas as Link’s Backup Singer / Teen
Bruce McFee as Police Chief
Christian Hagen as Male TV Reporter
John Andersen as News Anchorman
Neil Crone as Cop at Protest
George King as Mr. Flak
James Kirchner as Science Geek Teacher
Brendan Wall as Male Cop on TV
Ted Ludzik as Police Sergeant at Protest
Ron Pardo as Good Morning Baltimore Host
Geri Hall as Good Morning Baltimore Hostess
Seth Howard as Stage Manager
Ricki Lake as Talent Agent
Adam Shankman as Talent Agent
Marc Shaiman as Talent Agent
Scott Wittman as Talent Agent
Anne Fletcher as Nurse
Joey Pizzi as Driving Instructor
Zachary Woodlee as Smoking Teacher
Laura Edwards as Vicky – Corny Collins Council
Becca Sweitzer as Darla – Corny Collins Council
Cassie Silva as Brenda – Corny Collins Council
Tiffany Engen as Noreen – Corny Collins Council
Brooke Engen as Doreen – Corny Collins Council
Sarah Jayne Jensen as Shelley – Corny Collins Council
Hayley Podschun as Tammy – Corny Collins Council
Nick Baga as Sketch – Corny Collins Council
Curtis Holbrook as Brad – Corny Collins Council
J.P. Ferreri as Joey – Corny Collins Council
Spencer Liff as Mikey – Corny Collins Council
Phillip Spaeth as Fender – Corny Collins Council
Tabitha Lupien as Becky – Corny Collins Council
Kelly Fletcher as Lou Ann – Corny Collins Council
Jesse Weafer as IQ – Corny Collins Council / Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Corey Gorewicz as Bix – Corny Collins Council
Josh Feldman as Jesse – Corny Collins Council / Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Everett Smith as Paulie – Corny Collins Council / Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Ariel Reid as Rhonda – Detention Kid
Whitney Brown as Hoo Hoo – Detention Kid
Jason Dolphin as Tyrone – Detention Kid
Anthony Carr as Duane – Detention Kid
Chris Andrew Robinson as Jermaine – Detention Kid
Sarah Francis as Janetta – Detention Kid
Starr Domingue as Pearl – Detention Kid
Shawn Byfield as Little Mo – Detention Kid
Shane Simpson as Skillet – Detention Kid
Jade Anderson as Stooie – Detention Kid
Rhonda Roberts as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Jennifer Abbey as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Sherisse Springer as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Vanessa Cobham as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Eboni Nichols as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Holly Alexis Hyman as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Jamal Sims as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Damon Butler as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Stephen Boss as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Marc Spaulding as Maybelle’s Store Dancer
Arike Rice as Dynamites
Tanee McCall as Dynamites
Nadine Ellis as Dynamites
Reggie Jackson as Record Hop Dancer
Tramaine Montell Ford as Record Hop Dancer
Khetanya Henderson as Record Hop Dancer
Loriel Hennington as Record Hop Dancer
Daniel Dyer as Record Hop Dancer
Kristen Munro as Record Hop Dancer
Ingrid Gaynor as Record Hop Dancer
Stacey Martino as Record Hop Dancer
Sal Scozzari as Good Morning Baltimore Dancer / Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Charles Seminerio as Good Morning Baltimore Dancer / Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Alison Smyth as Auditionee
Christine Moore as Auditionee
Emily Andrews as Auditionee
Julianne Jackson as Auditionee
Laura Lawson as Auditionee
Melissa Leifer as Auditionee
Janelle Hutchison as Hairdresser
Jenny Parsons as Hairdresser
Susan Henley as Hairdresser
Gerry Mendicino as Drunk
Nick Settimi as Record Store Owner
Kyle Golemba as Teen
Tiffany Green as Mr. Pinky’s Customer
Rachael Dolan as Mr. Pinky’s Customer
Kristina Uranowski as Mr. Pinky’s Customer
Charlotte Szivak as Mr. Pinky’s Customer
Deborah Overes as Mr. Pinky’s Customer
Mary McCandless as Mr. Pinky’s Seamstress
Sharron Matthews as Mr. Pinky’s Cashier
Jeffrey James as Gawky Kid
Carla Guiliani as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Chantelle Leonardo as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Melissa Williams as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Krystal Kiran as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Jessica Dawson as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Sheri Godfrey as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Jessica Keeling as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Romina D’Ugo as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Julia Juhas as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Cindy Willems as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Faye Rauw as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Niky Johnson as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Shannon Whelan as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Diana Coatsworth as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Keri Tkacz as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Krista Leis as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Sammy Rosen as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Stephen Findlay as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Mike Cota as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Dennis Lupien as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Serge Kushnier as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Austin Di Iulio as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Chad McFadden as Welcome tot he 60’s Dancer
Ted Banfalvi as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Shaun Amyot as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Blaine Totten as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Glen Kerr as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Paul Gordon as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Gerard McIsaac as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Josh Epstein as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Derek Gilroy as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
A. Frank Ruffo as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Darcy Evans as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Marc Kimelman as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Larry Mannell as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Wally Michaels as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Matthew Caruso as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Lyne Tremblay as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Mary Pitt as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Janice Luey as Welcome to the 60’s Dancer
Dondraico Johnson as Maybelle’s Store Dancer