Hairspray Review

Back in 1988, quirky movie maker John Waters introduced us to the world of rotund teen Tracey Turnblad and her dreams of dancing on the Corny Collins TV show. Just over a decade later and Broadway was tapping its feet to the rhythm of Tracey's desires when a big scale musical debuted and now the circle is complete as the musical becomes a movie. The action is set in early-'60s Baltimore where Tracey Turnblad (newcomer Nikki Blonsky) dreams of shaking her tail feather on local TV. Her Dad (Christopher Walken) is behind her but Tracey's mum (John Travolta) is worried that she'll be rejected because of how she looks - but this is the '60s and surely anything is possible?

Recent 'Broadway to big screen' transitions such as "The Producers" and "Rent" have proved that a successful stage production doesn't always guarantee a decent movie - fortunately "Hairspray" bucks the trend. Featuring a fabulous cast (there's Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah and James Marsden for the adults while the teenagers get Blonsky, Amanda Bynes and "High School Musical" heart throb Zac Efron) and more than enough memorable tunes, "Hairspray" is a hugely enjoyable couple of hours. Delightfully camp, you'll want to applaud after every song while the movie's lessons on tolerance and equality will never go out of date. Blonsky is a revelation as Tracey and forms a great relationship with the fat-suited Travolta, who proves his agility by still tripping the light fantastic in the movie's closing scenes.

Director Adam Shankman ("The Pacifier") has thrown himself in to what is obviously a passion project and, although he's made a few changes to the original plot, it still works so do yourself a favour - go see "Hairspray" and put a bit of sunshine in your step.