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Hairspray
1987
Baltimore, 1962. Ample, energetic teen Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake) wants nothing more than to get on hip local TV dance programme THE CORNY COLLINS SHOW. When she finally gets her way, her lively dance moves and bubbly personality are met with unexpected popularity, along with the ire of a fellow dancer, scheming Amber Von .. Read more
| Starring | Divine, Michael St. Gerard, Ricki Lake, Deborah Harry |
|---|---|
| Director | John Waters |
| Genres | Comedy, Music/Musical, Teen |
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Critics' reviews (2)
View all -
These days Ricki Lake has to deal with more than her fair share of eccentrics on her chat show, but she probably still hasn't come across anyone weirder than John Waters, who launched her into stardom with this kitsch classic. Waters tones down his usual excesses, but his mischievous black sense of humour is still very much to the fore in this affectionate salute to Z-grade teen movies. Lake is the fun-loving Tracy Turnblad, who becomes the new teen dancing queen much to the horror of her wealthy, snobbish parents, who want their daughter to shine. The soundtrack is a constant delight, as is the eclectic cast, which ranges from Waters' regulars Divine (his last movie) and Mink Stole, through to Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono, Pia Zadora and former Cars singer Ric Ocasek.
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Waters' most hygienically commercial film is a Retro schlock-fancier's delight. Remember backcombing and the beehive,... read more on Time Out
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Most helpful members' reviews (3)
View all -
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Absolutely brilliant!
This film is absolutely amazing; and is the original 1987 version of Hairspray.
The acting is superb, as of course is the dancing. All of the leads are absolutely fantastic and the plot is flawless.
This is one of the funniest films you will have seen in a long time - you HAVE to see it!!!
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- dancingthroughlife from London
- Posted 12 Jun 2007 16:35
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5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
One of my favourite films, ever! Ricki Lake is superb, as are Divine, Deborah Harry, Sonny Bono, John Waters himself in a cameo role and the other young actors. The music is wonderful, it's joyful, funny and has great dances and fantastic costumes. It even has a serious message, highlighting the evil of racial segregation in 1960s and showing how music broke down barriers. But above all, it's fun, fun, fun, and it's a PG, so you can watch it with the kids, and they love it too! For fans of blues and soul, singer Ruth Brown appears as Motormouth Mabel.
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3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
'That girl's got roaches in her hair!'
'Hairspray' is a unique comedy set in the early 60s based around the life of a girl named Tracy Turnblad, played by Ricki Lake, and her desire to dance on the 'Corny Collins Show'.
There is also an interesting underlying sub-plot of race relations and segregation running throughout the film which, although portrayed in a tongue-in-cheek manner, adds an important message to the movie.
The supporting cast is excellent with Divine and Deborah Harry (and her extremely interesting hair) on particularly top form as the respective mothers of Tracy and Amber (Tracy's dance rival), but it is Ricki Lake who shines in John Water's feel-good spectacular. -
Most recent members' reviews (2)
View all -
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
No go
Nowhere near as enjoyable as recent re-make. Divine lacked the star quality of John Travolt. Disappointing.
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2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
The fabulous, original Hairspray!
This is the original Hairspray, a great one to watch for all of you out there who are not into musicals. The new, musical version is great but it is also good to look back upon the original. Ricki Lake and Divine are brilliant and the costumes and hairdos are fab!
-
6 out of 7 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
Absolutely brilliant!
This film is absolutely amazing; and is the original 1987 version of Hairspray.
The acting is superb, as of course is the dancing. All of the leads are absolutely fantastic and the plot is flawless.
This is one of the funniest films you will have seen in a long time - you HAVE to see it!!!-
- dancingthroughlife from London
- Posted 12 Jun 2007 16:35
-
5 out of 5 people found this review helpful
One of my favourite films, ever! Ricki Lake is superb, as are Divine, Deborah Harry, Sonny Bono, John Waters himself in a cameo role and the other young actors. The music is wonderful, it's joyful, funny and has great dances and fantastic costumes. It even has a serious message, highlighting the evil of racial segregation in 1960s and showing how music broke down barriers. But above all, it's fun, fun, fun, and it's a PG, so you can watch it with the kids, and they love it too! For fans of blues and soul, singer Ruth Brown appears as Motormouth Mabel.
-
3 out of 3 people found this review helpful
'That girl's got roaches in her hair!'
'Hairspray' is a unique comedy set in the early 60s based around the life of a girl named Tracy Turnblad, played by Ricki Lake, and her desire to dance on the 'Corny Collins Show'.
There is also an interesting underlying sub-plot of race relations and segregation running throughout the film which, although portrayed in a tongue-in-cheek manner, adds an important message to the movie.
The supporting cast is excellent with Divine and Deborah Harry (and her extremely interesting hair) on particularly top form as the respective mothers of Tracy and Amber (Tracy's dance rival), but it is Ricki Lake who shines in John Water's feel-good spectacular. -
3 out of 4 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
No go
Nowhere near as enjoyable as recent re-make. Divine lacked the star quality of John Travolt. Disappointing.
-
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
The fabulous, original Hairspray!
This is the original Hairspray, a great one to watch for all of you out there who are not into musicals. The new, musical version is great but it is also good to look back upon the original. Ricki Lake and Divine are brilliant and the costumes and hairdos are fab!
-
2 out of 2 people found this review helpful
[Highly rated reviewer]
No go
Nowhere near as invigourating as recent re-make. Divine lacked the star quality of John Travolta. Disappointing.
-
1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
hairspray
i think this was one of the best films of the eighties with great music and brilliantly acted by ricki lake and the rest of the crew
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
good
really good veiwing enjoyed it
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
Loved this
I watched this film years ago and fancied a trip down memory lane. I wasnt disappointed.It has everything you need in a teen musical comedy. Plus a man dressed as a woman, such is british humour!
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1 out of 1 person found this review helpful
still fab
This has got to be one of my fav films. Ms Lake is fantastic it still makes me giggle
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- jiggy
- Posted 09 Nov 2007 21:33
Critics' reviews (2)
-
These days Ricki Lake has to deal with more than her fair share of eccentrics on her chat show, but she probably still hasn't come across anyone weirder than John Waters, who launched her into stardom with this kitsch classic. Waters tones down his usual excesses, but his mischievous black sense of humour is still very much to the fore in this affectionate salute to Z-grade teen movies. Lake is the fun-loving Tracy Turnblad, who becomes the new teen dancing queen much to the horror of her wealthy, snobbish parents, who want their daughter to shine. The soundtrack is a constant delight, as is the eclectic cast, which ranges from Waters' regulars Divine (his last movie) and Mink Stole, through to Debbie Harry, Sonny Bono, Pia Zadora and former Cars singer Ric Ocasek.
-
Waters' most hygienically commercial film is a Retro schlock-fancier's delight. Remember backcombing and the beehive,... read more on Time Out
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