'Hairspray' full of tawdry, tacky fun

John Waters' first real attempt at "mainstream" fun is a trashy and critically-acclaimed delight. Set in (where else?) Baltimore during the Civil Rights era, Hairspray is chock-full of stars, mini-stars, and people who just wanna give it a go at being a star.

The story follows young Tracy Turnblad (pre-talk show Ricki Lake) on her rise to being "big, blonde, and beautiful" on a popular teenage dance show. Along the way, however, she runs into some friction from high school brat Amber Von Tussle (Colleen Fitzpatrick, also known as pop star Vitamin C) and her parents, a racial obscenity-spouting mother (Debbie Harry) and a slick politician papa (Sonny Bono). Add in growing discontentment among the city's black populace over whites-only establishments, and you have an explosive mix made even more explosive by how off-the-wall it becomes.

Dance enthusiasts will appreciate the film for its selection of early 60s fad dances like the Mashed Potato and the Madison. Offbeat and fun, Hairspray also has an excellent soundtrack with some obscure songs you'll be hard-pressed to find in another compilation.

Bonafide Cult Classic!

"Hairspray," marks the mainstream feature film debut of Baltimore, Maryland's most eccentric film director, John Waters. Incorporating his hometown and his love of sixties tunes, "Hairspray" chronicles the rise of a chubby Baltimore teenager (Ricki Lake in her film debut) as she rises to the top of a local dance show. Being the underdog in this movie, Lake's performance as Tracy Turnblad is classic and her rise to the top makes this one of the feel-good movies in recent years.

On the way to the top, Tracy faces fierce competition from snobbish Amber Von Tussel and her racist, conservative parents (played by Deborah Harry and the late Sonny Bono). Faced with a growing demand to intergrate the show, the movie takes place in a major era in American history as the Civil Rights movement is starting to take form.

In comparison with his other films, I feel this is Water's best work. He truly has made Tracy Turnblad somewhat of an antihero due to the fact of her weight and social background, but it works perfectly. At the end of this movie everyone will be screaming the words "Free Tracy Turnblad!" over and over again (surprsingly, that line has become a major pop-culture line on many college campuses throughout the United State).

Supporting actors such as Divine, Jerry Stiller, Ruth Brown, Pia Zadora, Rick Ocasek, and Michael St. Gerard (Doesn't he look like Elvis?) bring life to this film and the film's style, costumes, and soundtrack will give many a feeling for 1960's nolstagia.

In conclusion, this film should become an addition to anyone's video library. I can't wait for the DVD version to come out. Until then, buy it! You won't be disappointed.

Forever Quotable!

Tracy Turnblad is described by her contempories as "a fat trash can," "teenage Jezebel hair hopper," "a whore, (who *I heard* made out in a car - naked!)," "adopted," "white trash or maybe high yellow" or even "mulatto!"... with "roaches in her hair!".... But they're all just hatin', because Tracy is also "the best white dancer in Baltimore" and "a modern teen" that believes in integration! Tracy competes for the dancing queen crown - and also for the leading man - against none other than Amber von Tussle, a "stuck up spastic" who is "*such* a queer," that she makes Tracy's mom ashamed to be white! There's a lot of (funny) trash talkin' goin' on, because a lot is on the line....

The competition between Tracy and Amber, and by extension integrationists and segregationists, will make you feel good, tap your toes, laugh out loud a lot, and cheer. Hairspray's "bad taste" moments are funny as heck, and piece together for a movie that epitomizes good taste -- kind, empathetic, and with a wonderful heart! The music and dancing are just *amazing*! And the fashions and bright colored sets are life-affirming perfect! (Is it just me, or did these early 60's fashions *strongly* influence the early 80's styles?.... Debbie Harry, Ric Ocasek, and Pia Zadora fit in perfect). In the excellent dvd commentary, director John Waters says the sets and styles are realistic for the times. What a bright, bold, fun, cool (when "cool" was cool), forward-looking time! Tracy's mom has a picture of Jackie Kennedy framed on the wall :-). Mom says, "It's the times. They are a-changin'. There's something blowing in the wind. Fetch me my diet pills, would you hun?"

If Hairspray ended with "Where are they now?", Tracy might be a Senator from Maryland, or the Governor, ... or more!! 5 stars as I stand in my chair applauding. Hairspray's bright fun is worth watching many times.