Hairspray-1988
Director John Waters
Starring Ricki Lake, Divine
Scott’s Review #130
Reviewed July 23, 2014
Grade: B+
Hairspray (1988) is one of director John Water’s later and much more mainstream comedies.
Influencing the Broadway musical of the same name that was created years later and inspiring a successful remake in 2007, the film is a wonderful watch one late at night accompanied by spirits.
It is fun, fun, fun.
The film tells the story of a cute, yet insecure, overweight teenager named Tracy Turnblad, wonderfully portrayed by Rikki Lake. Tracy lives in Baltimore in the racially conflicted 1960s, and she battles to appear on a local talent show.
With Waters directing, one might expect comedic raunchiness, but Hairspray is quite tame. It is the only Waters film to be rated PG, the others are rated X.
Not to be outdone, however, Hairspray does contain its share of light naughtiness.
The film itself, while campy and over the top, is important since it does its best to break down racial barriers, including interracial relationships, and sends an important message.
Tracy and her best friend Penny Pingleton judge people for who they are, not on race, income, or anything else.
Those characters in Hairspray who are written as racist or less than welcoming to interracial cohabitation (again the film is set in the early 1960s) look like buffoons and not with the progressive social times.
The supporting cast is high caliber- Divine and Jerry Stiller are perfectly cast as Tracy’s open-minded yet cautious and concerned parents.
Famous musicians appear in cameos- most notable are Debbie Harry, Ric Ocasek, and Sonny Bono in small but zesty roles.
The musical dance numbers are plentiful and perfectly fit the time of the film.
Hairspray (1988) is entertaining, relevant, and free with a powerful message mixed in with the entertainment.
Independent Spirit Award Nominations: Best Feature, Best Director-John Waters, Best Female Lead-Ricki Lake, Best Supporting Male-Divine, Best Supporting Female-Debbie Harry, Best Screenplay