My Review of Hairspray.
So "Hairspray" pretty much is one of my top 3 favortie plays of all time. I got to see it last summer on Breadway and then tonight in movie format. I'd just want to let you know what I think.
First off, the movie was very good, very well done, and very enjoyable. I urge you all to go and see it. It's think it's one of the best musical to movie transitions. Some of the camera shorts and angles, and some editing was pretty clever and amazing.
Characters
John Travolta - Huge name for a movie which brings in the people. I think he did really well. Most people I've talked to are kind of iffy about his performance. I thought he pulled Edna off very well. The only thing that did bother me was that his voice and part of his face looked too "John Travolta-y" for me. I saw his as John Travolta playing Edna not BEING Edna. Though his dancing was quite impressive especially in "You Can't Stop the Beat."
Michelle Pheiffer - Was OK. For one thing it's hard to like the villian. I think she pulled off her controlling mother "my Amber needs the best" very well. Her voice was OK because she pretty much sang-talked her song. Overall, she filled the part well, but didn't stand out.
Christopher Walken - REALLY suprised me. I'm not a huge Walken fan and rumors when this was first being casted was that Billy Crystal was going to play his part. Though he pulled off Wilbur really well. His joke shop gags were quite humorous. Though I think "Timeless to Me" could have been a little more emotional not just playful. BUT it worked.
Amanda Bynes - I felt was very under-used. In the play her chracter of Penny is mostly the stupid sidekick character, but she's fun and amusing. I used to LOVE Amanda Bynes when she was on "All That" and she did the character well, I just wished she had more on screen time. I also like the religion twist to her mother. It was very very clever and actually was more believable than in the play. (Rosie you'll like that part.)
James Madison - Really stuck out to me. He made Corney Collins into a character. In the play, the character is very flat, one sided, just the host of the show. Madison brings different sides to Corney and it really help the show. He really stood out.
Queen Latifah - I love her. I think she was MY FAVORITE in the whole show. I loved her since she's played Mama in "Chicago" and she didn't put the attidude of Motormouth that is seen in the play, but it totally made it work. She also made the protest scene MORE powerful than in the play. AWESOME!
Brittany Snow - Wasn't amazing, but she filled the part. She did her job of being a comeplete bitch towards Tracy well. She just didn't have that special something.
Zac Efron - I live him. I like "High School Musical" and I'm not afraid to admit it. I also think like Amanda, he was underused. In the play, Link is a major character. He's present in his solos, but there's not alot of interaction between he and Tracy. I didn't like that. I thought Zac did well and man can he dance.
Elijah Kelly - WOW! Does this guy have a voice and can move! After Queen Latifa, my other favorite character. He can dance and sing very well. He portrayed Seaweed very well and I was very pleased.
Mikki Blonsky - Good for her! Shes a cutie pie. The thing I really loved about her is that she really is BIG! Like this is going to sound weird but she has arm fat and stuff and I was REALLY excited about that. She pulled Tracy off beautifully.
Songs
"Welcome to the 60's" and "Run and Tell That" are the best in the whole movie. Very well done, complicated, a lot going on, but up beat, peppy, and enjoyable. Also as I mentioned before, "Big Blonde and Beautiful" and "I Know Where I've Been" by Queen Latifa were also very moving and well done.
I didn't like "I Can Hear the Bells." In the movie they do this whole dream sequence where it really works. They didn't do that in the movie and I think it hindered the song a bit.
They added a song for Link to sing. An upbeat, peppy, Elvis-ish tune called "Lady's Choice." I really liked it.
"Without Love" was pretty cool too. It's one of my favorite songs.
I WAS REALLY MAD THEY TOOK OUT "MAMA, I'M A BIG GRIL NOW." In the play, that's one of the best performances. Though, it was in the end credits. I also missed "cooties" but it would have been out of place with how the ended it. though it did play in the background for a scene.
Differences
They don't send Tracy to jail, but the movie really makes it work. She is running away from being arrested. I liked that better. I also loved the protest. It was very powerful.
The ending is a bit different, but I think it brings the play's theme across even more than how it ends in play form.
But yeah, go see this movie. I'll go with you. It's awesome.
First off, the movie was very good, very well done, and very enjoyable. I urge you all to go and see it. It's think it's one of the best musical to movie transitions. Some of the camera shorts and angles, and some editing was pretty clever and amazing.
Characters
John Travolta - Huge name for a movie which brings in the people. I think he did really well. Most people I've talked to are kind of iffy about his performance. I thought he pulled Edna off very well. The only thing that did bother me was that his voice and part of his face looked too "John Travolta-y" for me. I saw his as John Travolta playing Edna not BEING Edna. Though his dancing was quite impressive especially in "You Can't Stop the Beat."
Michelle Pheiffer - Was OK. For one thing it's hard to like the villian. I think she pulled off her controlling mother "my Amber needs the best" very well. Her voice was OK because she pretty much sang-talked her song. Overall, she filled the part well, but didn't stand out.
Christopher Walken - REALLY suprised me. I'm not a huge Walken fan and rumors when this was first being casted was that Billy Crystal was going to play his part. Though he pulled off Wilbur really well. His joke shop gags were quite humorous. Though I think "Timeless to Me" could have been a little more emotional not just playful. BUT it worked.
Amanda Bynes - I felt was very under-used. In the play her chracter of Penny is mostly the stupid sidekick character, but she's fun and amusing. I used to LOVE Amanda Bynes when she was on "All That" and she did the character well, I just wished she had more on screen time. I also like the religion twist to her mother. It was very very clever and actually was more believable than in the play. (Rosie you'll like that part.)
James Madison - Really stuck out to me. He made Corney Collins into a character. In the play, the character is very flat, one sided, just the host of the show. Madison brings different sides to Corney and it really help the show. He really stood out.
Queen Latifah - I love her. I think she was MY FAVORITE in the whole show. I loved her since she's played Mama in "Chicago" and she didn't put the attidude of Motormouth that is seen in the play, but it totally made it work. She also made the protest scene MORE powerful than in the play. AWESOME!
Brittany Snow - Wasn't amazing, but she filled the part. She did her job of being a comeplete bitch towards Tracy well. She just didn't have that special something.
Zac Efron - I live him. I like "High School Musical" and I'm not afraid to admit it. I also think like Amanda, he was underused. In the play, Link is a major character. He's present in his solos, but there's not alot of interaction between he and Tracy. I didn't like that. I thought Zac did well and man can he dance.
Elijah Kelly - WOW! Does this guy have a voice and can move! After Queen Latifa, my other favorite character. He can dance and sing very well. He portrayed Seaweed very well and I was very pleased.
Mikki Blonsky - Good for her! Shes a cutie pie. The thing I really loved about her is that she really is BIG! Like this is going to sound weird but she has arm fat and stuff and I was REALLY excited about that. She pulled Tracy off beautifully.
Songs
"Welcome to the 60's" and "Run and Tell That" are the best in the whole movie. Very well done, complicated, a lot going on, but up beat, peppy, and enjoyable. Also as I mentioned before, "Big Blonde and Beautiful" and "I Know Where I've Been" by Queen Latifa were also very moving and well done.
I didn't like "I Can Hear the Bells." In the movie they do this whole dream sequence where it really works. They didn't do that in the movie and I think it hindered the song a bit.
They added a song for Link to sing. An upbeat, peppy, Elvis-ish tune called "Lady's Choice." I really liked it.
"Without Love" was pretty cool too. It's one of my favorite songs.
I WAS REALLY MAD THEY TOOK OUT "MAMA, I'M A BIG GRIL NOW." In the play, that's one of the best performances. Though, it was in the end credits. I also missed "cooties" but it would have been out of place with how the ended it. though it did play in the background for a scene.
Differences
They don't send Tracy to jail, but the movie really makes it work. She is running away from being arrested. I liked that better. I also loved the protest. It was very powerful.
The ending is a bit different, but I think it brings the play's theme across even more than how it ends in play form.
But yeah, go see this movie. I'll go with you. It's awesome.