Hairspray (2007)

Highly self-indulgent and SLOW - John Travolta has no screen presence in this film. The original Hairspray starring Divine is streets ahead of this "filmed musical". The original has more humour, is better paced and its musical score is of the period.

Fun with some deeper meaning

Ah, I see, middle aged fat women are so horrifying that the only way to make the heroine's mother acceptable is to have her played by John Travolta in drag. Yep, way to go reinforcing the tolerance and acceptance messages. An amusing confection. The bad guys are all WASPs, the quirky and downtrodden are all wonderful, tolerant humanitarians and at the end all is right with the world. I might have enjoyed this more if I weren't a fat middle aged woman, having my general unattractiveness reinforced by a good actor in drag.

I liked this movie very much - I like good musicals & this was different and most enhoyable.

boring teenage college rubbish

Love love love this movie!! John Travolta is HILARIOUS and the rest of the cast are great too. Definitely one that makes you want to get up and dance!

It's soooooooooo bad and in comparison to the original. NO NO NO! make it stop now.

love love the movie

Fun and unusual outing for Travolta! LOVED the musical score.. The racial overtones got to be a tad much towards the end! Slightly grating there..overall great attempt at light hearted humour! WELL DONE!!

Soooooo good! And funny.

Good movie. Good performances by all the cast and good to see Travolta in drag.

This is fun, if you can get past John Travolta being a woman. Strong supporting cast holds this movie up quite well. Good songs once you get to know them. Happy, bright

Loved it very good story even in this age.

I love this movie, its a toe-tapping feel good movie!!! I would definitely hire again!

This was not really Ian's kind of movie but he enjoyed some of the music, I liked it probably more because of the message behind the story .

Who can possibly say no to John Travolta and Christopher Walken in a duet?

Entertaining but corny

Loved this movie! Good energy, great songs.

I did like this movie. However I think you have to be in the mood to watch a musical

A good movie with strong message that it is OK to be different and stand up for what you believe.

Brilliant!!! Cannot rave too much about this one. Squeals of delight all round!!!!

Great feel good movie, well acted, danced and sung, great cast. Really really enjoyed this movie. Bring back the musical Genre.

A lot of fun and a general feel good movie with an underlying plot that I didn't know about which made it really good. Great cast...good to bring the musical format back.

The movie was OK John Travolta dressed up as a woman was something different Christopher walken did not suit the role he was playing

High in energy, hey Edna you go girl.

Lots of fun! Worth watching again and again. Great music.

Brilliant movie!!! Love it!! It makes you feel like getting up and dancing!! Highly recommended!!

Absolutely fabulous

Wonderful, fun movie with great performances by everyone. John Travolta's character was a hoot and although I found his accent strange to adjust to his character was superb and very funny. This is a light, family friendly movie that just makes you feel good.

Was good but too much singing, not my kind of movie

You have to love a movie where they manage to merge civil disobediance, race relations and dance competitions! Everyone in the cast seemed to really throw themselves into the spirit of this one, and just push that envelope almost to the point of caricature and then bring it back a notch. I could happily watch this one again.

I would hardy call this a comedy or a drama. It is a musical. There is singing and poor dancing throughtout, starting from the minute the movie begins. I watched it, smiled abit, but would never watch it again.

Very sweet, GREAT music, really enjoyable (although i can never watch the scene under the washing line. grosses me out). I reccommend it to anyone who likes musicals, and even those who dont!

If you like musicals get it. Worth watching, if only to see John Travolta as a woman!!!!

great movie, alot like other musicals though, not really something that will be as big a grease for john t but a great movie for a teenage girl to watcch

Light hearted enterntainment and John Travolta brilliant. Good to take your mind of hectic lives and just relax.

I loved Hairspray. It was an outstanding film that I could watch over and over again. John Travolta as a woman was so classy and believable and although I knew he was a man it didn't bother me in the least.Michelle Pfeiffer was outstanding as was all the stars of the movie. A definately five up thumbs for this movie. A definate keeper

feel good nice movie.....although John Travolta played a great woman ;-))

John Travolta was really cute as a female. Other than that I was a bit disappointed although the young lead girl was a great singer and dancer.

Sorry just did not do it for me. I found it tried too hard and failed . Grease I think not Mr Travolta !

The first time i saw this I let the critics tell me what to expect/think. This time, i just sat there and made my own mind up and I absolutely loved it. Toes were tapping and the final dancing made be feel like getting up and dancing myself... Brilliant movie

An energetic show and a feel good movie.

Hated it. Nothing i saw on the trailers reflected what I put myself through watching it. John Travolta was its only saving grace.

Enjoyable (politically aware) musical romp that moves along at a rapid pace. What was lacking is really memorable songs. Nevertheless its fun from start to finish.

Loved it so much I bought it and have been watching it every day! FANTASTIC CAST, FIVE STARS!!

If you like musical movies, this one is a cracker. Go on and sing along. Good for the whole family on a weekend.

It's a fun movie

I enjoyed the original, loved this more. This is more for masses. My mum (60+ enjoyed this). Sorry to say she would have walked away from the John Waters one.

Fun. Touching. Gorgeous! This is an excellent movie, with great songs, great cast, and often some very funny moments. Doesn't matter if you haven't heard the songs before. For me, soooo much better than Grease!

spoilt by poor choice of 60's songs.....obvious story and lack of comedy...apart from that it helped to fill in 90 minutes.

Great music and a superb ensemble cast. Michelle Pfeiffer is supremely queenly bitchy, Christopher Walken self-absorbed but an empowering dad, John Travolta looks great in a comb-up and hose and Queen Latifah is simply stunning. Lots of laughs, serious moments and songs to rock your socks off. Highly recommended for the whole family.

A good, fun movie with a fairly serious undercurrent message. John Travolta in a fat suit was unnecessary to the storyline except in an ironic reference to his Grease era, but he certainly gave curiosity edge to the film. The music was good if a little banal. Certainly every character was a cliche but that is the whole point of the musical genre. Enjoyable fun.

Sorry, just didn't like it, too much like sugar on a spoon.

This is a great movie for the whole family. High energy, fun and a good moral for the kids. This is really worth getting for the whole family to watch together

Loved it! My husband & kids loved it too!

Ouch !

What a shocker ! Is this a serious musical or a send up ? Travolta plays a very unconvincing mother, and the over-acting and sacharin sweet over-optimism quickly gets tiring. There are just too many slim blonde chicks to prove its main point that everyone - especially a fat chick can - dance !

Hairspray is a vibrant musical, which explores the deep topics of prejudice due to race, weight, or background, and of course following your dream and your heart.

An excellent fun movie with a strong social message about acceptance. Thoroughly enjoyable John Travolta is hilarious!

Bright & Bubbly movie, very entertaining!

I do not like musicals. However, this was absolutely fantastic. Lots of just good fun!! John T has one of the best smiles in the world anyway, but you could see he was just having a ball making this.

great 'feel good' movie and gives a positive message to all - worth watching!

Just brilliant. Great music

Great dancing

Highly entertaining musical that the whole family can enjoy

I loved this movie so much I had to go and buy myself my own copy! Plus, my three year old loves it too, so it keeps her happy, which is a bonus!!

Great viewing Very enjoyable and a good laugh

A bit of froth and bubble with a serious underlying theme - racial conflict and integration. Good toe tapping music and generally surprising entertainment.

Born to dance and sing and overact..Travolta is a Travesty..the plot is what plot??..the tunes are forgettable and I feel so grumpy after watching this film..luckily the final 15 mins wouldn't play on my DVD so even my equipment hated it!!!..3/10

Sort of weird and corny but worth watching for a good laugh.

I thought this was a funny movie. Great dancing although the songs sounded the same sometimes. But definately not to be missed.

One of the liveliest films I've seen on past few years. Follows the same mood of "Chicago" on the 1960's instead of 1920s. No big celebrities here but there are some true young gems under a very competent direction. It's fun, it's naughty, its happy - guarantee to entertain and lift you up.

Really Excellent

Despite the tumult of the times it is set in, this is great fun with a terrific cast. Who would have thought we'd ever see Christopher Walken and John Travolta being Fred and Ginger? In the great closing number we even see a bit of Tina Turner creeping into Travolta's performance. Great fun. Feel good movie.

Fantastic ! And I don't even like musicals as a rule. Right from the first number this movie oozes positivity and fun. Nikki Blonski is an absolute revelation. It did take me a little time to get used to John Travolta's character, but take everything for fun value and you'll really enjoy this gem of a film.

Not one of the best musicals I've seen. Themoral of the story a good one. Group singing all right but as individuals no one stood out as a "star". Interesting to see John Travolta as a women but it seem to detract from the actual movie Was disappointed overall

really good most enjoyable

Brilliant! Litle lady playing Tracy was adorable. I loved Edna (John Travolta) made it for me, hasn't lost his dancing ability. wow can he dance!!! All the characters made it so worth watching loved all the music and the dancing! Worth watching again and again!!!!!!

I had a good time watching this enjoyable film. The mesage of embracing diversity was well done and in no way detracted from the 'entertainment'.

Very enjoyable movie, funny and the music was great I loved every minute of it.

Absolutely loved it! Great music and great actors.

Seen the original? John Waters, known for his "edge" gave the original a dark twist; and we still loved Tracey and Edna Turnblad. In this version, the darkness is brightened somewhat by the toe-tapping soundtrack, but this doesn't detract from the depth behind the characters and their journey. Travolta shines in his performance, showing off his compassion for his character, he deftly demonstrates people???s complexity. Ever felt scared of the Big Wide World? Travolta doesn't indulge Edna, he shows that despite the fact we all have fears, these can be overcome - if we have the love both of and for a child-teen whose naivet??, hope, and firm belief in fairness and herself - with a passion for dance - indeed can teach us ALL a thing or two. Blonsky pads out Tracey's hope with at turns a heartfelt audience desire to save her from "the nasty world" her mother is so scared of. But have faith! Edna might not have lot of faith in herself to begin with, but like a virus, faith and hope CAN spread, and as we know of the Sixties, actually changed the world (for a while, and for the better.) Pfeiffer's character is a WONDERFUL contrast to this belief, and her portrayal of Velma as the corrupt TV exec is pitch perfect. Seeing Walken and Travolta dancing (Travolta? Dancing in a "fat-suit"? From white-satin wide lapel suit to fat suit; man's got talent!) is joy. Reminds you what "true love" is all about. Latifa as the strong, wise matriarch of the "Black Community" makes you want to send letters to congress about her character's cause. Xenophobia doesn't go away... this needn???t be "explained." There's romance, music, hope, fear, compassion and a toe-tapping reminder that "the nicest kids in town" really DO have something to sing - and dance about. And we'd be hardened fools not to join in. Highly recommended.

My wife and I really enjoyed this movie as some great light entertainment. It doesn't try to be more than it is - yes it has a message about racial and size discrimination but it doesn't get too serious and makes some very risque jokes and commentaries on society that push the boundaries of bad taste without going too far. The performances of most of the cast was outstanding. There seems to be two camps when it comes to John Travolta's performance as Edna Turnblad and I'm afraid I'm in the camp of those who aren't really impressed. It could have been sublime, but it went too far into the ridiculous for my taste. Christopher Walken is at his best, but it is the young actors that really leave an impression. Nikki Blonsky is outstanding as Tracy Turnblad, James Marsden (Corny Collins) and Zac Efron (Link Larkin) absolutely nail their characters. If you like musical comedy this is could be one of the best if you're prepared to just relax, be entertained and don't take things too seriously.

This movie was a lot of fun. Predictable in some respects, but the performances of some of the lesser known actors were excellent. James Marsden as Corny Collins nailed the chararcter brilliantly, as did Zac Efron as Link Larkin. The plot being somewhat predictable is all that stopped me giving this film four stars. The comedy is sharp and there are some great one-liners that are slipped in that catch you when you least expect them. Well worth a watch.

Quite corny but a bit of fun. Music and dancing was fantastic. Worth watching.

FANTASTIC!!!

Hilarious and quirky. Christopher Walken at his best. Will become an underground classic.

A great movie, laughed all the way through it. would highly recommend it

A brilliantly adapted musical

Excellent - Beat discrimination with song and dance.

An enjoyable feel-good movie. Nikki was absolutely gorgeous as Tracey, the issue of segregation that the movie raised was eye-opening (this was only the 60's after all). The most disappointing part for me was John Travolta - surely they could have found a woman to play this role - it just didnt feel right. All in all an enjoyable film that leaves you smiling when its over.

fabulous great movie

very enjoyable

Briliant! So much fun to watch but it comes with an important message

Wasn't really my style

great

A fun, feel-good movie. A truimph of good over bad. A real eye-opener as to how it was'way back then' with segregation of black and white in the schools.

I seem to go against popular opinion here, but I found this movie only average. Despite loving much of Travolta's work I found him so unappealing in this role. It infact ruined it for me, always being aware of him being a skinny man in a fat suit pretending to be the great role that is the mother in this musical. The young Nicole Blonsky is a blast of fun talented fresh air however.

Highly entertaining!

Top rate musical. Loved the music & dance

good for a laugh but slow in parts.

ok movie to watch,a bit silly and overdonne.but ok.

So bad it was shocking. Just excruciatingly awful, and boring and the songs..... the songs were all just so badly done it was embarrasing. How did this film get made, and why did nobody fix any of the many things wrong with it before release??

Good performance by John Travolta. Movie is too long and the story is a bit predictable. The songs all sound the same.

Not as good as the first (Rikki Lake) version I have seen, but I loved John Travolta...the man is a genious

Great movie! John Travolta did an excellent job. Thoroughly enjoyed it !

Loved it - colourful, funny, catchy tunes.

loved it!

John Travolta was amazing as the mother, but after an hour the film really started to drag. The songs were supposedly from the 60/70s but weren't a scratch on the real thing. A bit disappointing overall

Very entertaining film along the lines of Grease. The songs are very catchy. The young girl is great as is John Travolta as a woman! Would definately recommend as a feel good movie.

This movie has great energy, humour and social conscience. Terrific performances and and unforgettable John Travolta as the obese mother. Better than the original.

A whole lot of fun! Great established actors stretching their talents, and new talent bursting with energy. Loved it!

Much better than I expected, a fun movie with John Travolta making quite a good woman.

entertaining, fun. John Travolta was hilarous in his role. The lead girl stole the show

Lots of fun and a couple of classic scenes. Especially good if you haven't seen the original film.

Great fun to watch. Makes you just wanna dance!

After a drought of decent musicals in recent times, I was expecting more of the same. I could not have been more wrong. This an incredible film with great songs, exciting choreography and a plot with a simple yet sincere feelgood message. I will watch it again.

my favorite movie ever!!!

Brilliant! Even better than the 1991 HairSpray with Rikki Lake even though she is seen at the end of this movie! I loved Edna (John Travolta) made it for me wow can she dance!!! All the characters made it so worth watching loved all the music and the dancing! Worth watching again and again!!!!!!

High energy and good fun.