Good Morning, Baltimore... And Me
filed on Thursday, July 26, 2007 at 4:52:39 PM CST

Okay, I have a confession to make.  I went and saw Hairspray.  I also saw it back when it starred Ricki Lake.  But even though I enjoyed the Ricki Lake version, I have to admit, the 2007 version of Hairspray is so much better.  G, Laura, and I went to see it, and we all agreed that we were smiling throughout the whole movie.  In fact, I was pretty sure I almost coughed up my own lung during the "I Can Hear the Bells" sequence.

If you have no plans of seeing it, go see it anyway.  It's an awesome, happy musical.

I knew that it was going to play the race card because I saw the first movie, but I have to say, it reminds us all that we're all in this world together, and it did a great job of showing the power of people standing up for what's right.

Beyond that though, seriously, the movie is awesome.  They couldn't have found a better Tracy Turnblad in Nikki Blonsky.  She's got this wonderful almost naive quality about her, and she just seems to be happy all the time.  Like I say, the "I Can Hear the Bells" sequence is beautifully done, which is basically her professing her sudden found love in Zac Efron's Link Larkin.

And speaking of Zac Efron, oh my god, how hot is this guy?  Not to mention there's such a funny moment when Link's hugging a picture of Tracy during "Without Love" that just sort of turns the tables on the typical teenage girl hugging boyfriend's picture that we're so used to seeing.  Zac does an absolutely marvelous job as Link, bringing the cute boyfriend who learns to stand by his woman angle some realism.

Of course, the cast is rounded out by Christopher Walken (Wilbur Turnblad -- and who would have imagined seeing Walken in a musical?), Amanda Bynes (Penny Pingleton -- ever since She's the Man, I've loved Amanda), Queen Latifah (Motormouth Mable -- and who better for this role?), Michelle Pfeiffer (Velma Von Tussle -- what a great evil lady she plays), and last but not least, John Travolta (Edna Turnblad).

Now, I like Travolta in some movies, and question him in others.  I have to admit, this movie absolutely, hands-down, makes me respect him as an actor.  He makes an ugly, ugly, UGLY woman, but good god, the man can dance.  Even in a fat-suit, dressed up as a woman.  He was ABSOLUTELY convincing as Edna Turnblad, and wow, seriously, I was so impressed with his dancing, particularly in the final routine.

Seriously... I know musicals aren't the norm these days, but this one is hands down the must-see movie of the summer.  And I say that having seen all of the other blockbusters this year save Shrek III.  THIS is the movie everyone should run out and see.  It's a feel-good movie with plenty of laughs, lots of energy, and a whole lot of fun.

Okay, okay, I know... who would be surprised about a gay man oozing about a musical.

Go see it anyway.