Hairspray

Theatrical Release Date: 2007 07 20 (USA)

UPC: 794043111037

Studio: New Line Home Video

MPAA Rating: PG   Contains:[Adult Situations, Adult Language, Smoking]

Summary: Adam Shankman's adaptation of the stage musical Hairspray, itself an adaptation of the non-musical John Waters film of the same name, stars Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, an overweight high-school student whose only dream is to be on a local Baltimore teen dance program. While her father (Christopher Walken) tells her to follow her dreams, her mother Edna (John Travolta in drag) reminds her that she doesn't look like the girls on that show. After impressing the show's host (James Marsden), Tracy earns a coveted spot on the program, but when she becomes a popular addition to the cast, she earns the wrath of the prettiest girl in school -- a girl whose mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) just happens to operate the local television station. Tracy's visit to detention hall opens her eyes to the racial tension on the show, as does the budding relationship between her best friend (Amanda Bynes) and an African-American boy named Seaweed (Elijah Kelley). Thus empowered, Tracy attempts to integrate the races on her favorite program. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi

Category: Musical

Awards: Best Acting Ensemble – Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Young Actress – Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Comedy Film – Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Family Film – Broadcast Film Critics Association Best Picture - Musical or Comedy – null Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical – null Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – null Most Promising Performer – Chicago Film Critics Association Best Picture - Musical or Comedy – Golden Satellite Award Best Ensemble Cast – Screen Actors Guild Best Newcomer – Detroit Film Critics Society Film Presented – Palm Springs International Film Festival Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Picture - Musical or Comedy – Hollywood Foreign Press Association Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion – Hollywood Foreign Press Association

Features: "Behind the Beat" exclusive picture-in-picture experience
Sing along with the movie using the lyric track
Step-by-step dance instructions
5 deleted scenes including Tracy's never-before-seen musical number, "I Can Wait"
"You Can't Stop the Beat: the Long Journey of Hairspray" documentary
"Hairspray Extensions": Breakin' down the dance scenes
"The Roots of Hairspray" - From Buddy Deane to Broadway!

Hairspray

Format: Blu-ray

Release Date: 11/20/2007

Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1 Cinemascope

Runtime: 117 Minutes

Sides: 2

Number of Discs: 2

Language(s) English

Subtitles: English,Spanish

Derek Armstrong

Hairspray starts out with such a contagious burst of delightfulness, it's no surprise this feeling isn't quite sustainable over two hours. A true confection in every sense, the film would work better if it were bite-sized. However, because John Waters' 94-minute 1988 film was given the Broadway treatment, and this is an adaptation of that version, it's fattened up by its quantity of production numbers. Some of these are wonderful, like the opening "Good Morning Baltimore" number that immerses us in this pastel world, and the show-stopping "You Can't Stop the Beat" later on. Other songs take on the quality of filler, even if it's pretty pleasing filler. Still, these are relatively minor complaints in an otherwise joyous viewing experience. Hairspray is perfectly cast, from what should be a star-making performance from Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, to the wicked scenery chewing of Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle, to John Travolta's sweet and heartfelt performance as Tracy's mother, Edna. Travolta's appearance in drag was a topic of discussion about Hairspray, specifically, what it might indicate about the actor's much-discussed sexuality (Divine, the originator of the role, was an actual drag queen). But it certainly doesn't play as a gimmick, and he has great chemistry with an equally delightful Christopher Walken during their backyard number "You're Timeless to Me." Also timeless are the issues of racial mainstreaming, which give Hairspray more thematic meat than its buoyant production design would suggest. It's a career best for director/choreographer Adam Shankman, who'd been stuck toiling away in throwaway comedies (Cheaper by the Dozen 2, The Pacifier). And in case you're wondering whether Shankman's version has Waters' stamp of approval, watch the opening scene closely for a cameo by the eccentric director, contributing his famously naughty sense of humor by playing a flasher. ~ Derek Armstrong, Rovi

Cast and Crew: Adam Shankman  Director 
Adam Shankman  Executive Producer 
Leslie Dixon  Screenwriter 
Neil Meron  Producer 
Marc Shaiman  Executive Producer 
Marc Shaiman  Composer (Music Score) 
Craig Zadan  Producer 
Garrett Grant  Executive Producer 
Jennifer Gibgot  Executive Producer 
Toby Emmerich  Executive Producer 
Michael Lynne  Executive Producer 
Mark Kaufman  Executive Producer 
Scott Wittman  Executive Producer 
Bob Shaye  Executive Producer 
John Travolta  Actor 
Michelle Pfeiffer  Actor 
Christopher Walken  Actor 
Amanda Bynes  Actor 
James Marsden  Actor 
Queen Latifah  Actor 
Brittany Snow  Actor 
Zac Efron  Actor 
Elijah Kelley  Actor 
Allison Janney  Actor 
Jerry Stiller  Actor 
Paul Dooley  Actor 
Tabitha Lupien  Actor 
Nikki Blonsky  Actor 
Taylor Parks  Actor 
Hayley Podschun  Actor 
Kelly Fletcher  Actor 

Country: USA