Movie Review: Hairspray

Movie Review: Hairspray                                                                                                                            2-9-18

In this underappreciated 2007 Broadway-style musical, Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) in 1960s Baltimore wishes to be on the TV series The Corny Collins Show. When her chance arrives, she grooves her way into instant stardom and the eyes of teen dream Link Larkin (Zac Efron). But when the show's scheming stage manager Velma Von Tossle (Michelle Pfeiffer) plots against Tracy, she will need help from her best friend Penny (Amanda Bynes), her big-hearted mother (John Travolta in drag), and sassy co-host Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifa) to show the world that all it takes to make a dream come true is a toe-tapping beat and a little hairspray!

Now, what do I think of Hairspray? I think Hairspray is a musical that rivals Frozen and La La Land with life-like production design and sets, catchy songs, and likable characters. In fact, I think Tracy Turnblad is a perfect role model for girls.

Tracy is ridiculed for not only being fat, but also appreciating "Negro Day". She wants African Americans to have equal rights to be on The Corny Collins Show with Caucasians.

John Travolta is also perfect and hilarious as Tracy's mom Edna.

I have seen many TV shows and movies with a man playing a woman, but none as effective and believable as this.

Velma Van Tossle is also a threatening and realistic villain: She is, along with her daughter Amber, a racist and a sizeist. Velma hates having African Americans on The Corny Collins Show because she believes they will make the show lose ratings. She also doesn't like Tracy because not only for her weight, but also because she stole her daughter's fame and fortune. Velma even went as far as calling Tracy a communist for wanting African Americans to be on the show.

Velma Von Tossle arguing with Corny Collins,

In conclusion, Hairspray is a fun film for the whole family. It is also a perfect film to watch on Martin Luther King Jr Day, even if it's a bit late for that as I'm typing this review.

Rating: The perfect rating of 5 stars.

Warning: This movie deals with racism, so some single-digit kids might not understand it.