Hairspray (2007)

[Lazario]

I have to ask, how was Allison Janney as Prudy Pingleton?

She is? Wow, that is cool! She was hilarious in Drop Dead Gorgeous. That movie is worth seeing just for her part in it.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I saw it yesterday. It was fantastic! It was fun and exciting (and seen Travolta as Edna was magnificent). Even though "It Takes Two" was only in there for about 5 seconds (sung wonderfully by Matthew Morrision in the OBC), I wished there was more of the song; it's one of my favorites in the whole show. Another thing that I didn't particularlly like was how the von Tussels were not included in "You Can't Stop The Beat." It kinda felt wrong that they weren't in there singing along. I think that Amber could have at least been in it. Though they were the "bad guys" so it probably makes sense if you've never seen the play. I do have one question though. Now I don't know anything about fashion, at all, so I was wondering, to those who have seen it, why was Tracy wearing, what seemed modern/hip today, clothing that didn't resemble anything from the '60s? Her hair was down and, to me, it made no sense. Can anyone explain?

[SpringHeelJack]

I do have one question though. Now I don't know anything about fashion, at all, so I was wondering, to those who have seen it, why was Tracy wearing, what seemed modern/hip today, clothing that didn't resemble anything from the '60s? Her hair was down and, to me, it made no sense. Can anyone explain?

You mean during the end, at "You Can't Stop the Beat"? Marc Shaiman said it was a tribute to Tracy being a "forward thinker", much like how the song "Without Love" resembles a song from the late 60's than one of the time period, in that Tracy is revolutionary in anything she does.

[Flanger-Hanger]

I saw it yesterday. It was fantastic! It was fun and exciting (and seen Travolta as Edna was magnificent). Even though "It Takes Two" was only in there for about 5 seconds (sung wonderfully by Matthew Morrision in the OBC), I wished there was more of the song; it's one of my favorites in the whole show.

The entire version of the song is included on the film's soundtrack.

There is one plot point that i still don't understand though

Spoilers:
If the cops are still after Tracy, wouldn't she still have to worry about being put in jail? I know in the OBC Link breaks her out of jail during "Without Love" but she should still be worring about doing time after "You Can't Stop the Beat", right?

[Anthony]

There is one plot point that i still don't understand though

Spoilers:
If the cops are still after Tracy, wouldn't she still have to worry about being put in jail? I know in the OBC Link breaks her out of jail during "Without Love" but she should still be worring about doing time after "You Can't Stop the Beat", right?

Don't worry, on the DVD there will be an alternate ending. As soon as Link and Tracy kiss you'll see the cops handcuff Tracy and drag her off to jail. A real feel good ending!

[SpringHeelJack]

There is one plot point that i still don't understand though

Spoilers:
If the cops are still after Tracy, wouldn't she still have to worry about being put in jail? I know in the OBC Link breaks her out of jail during "Without Love" but she should still be worring about doing time after "You Can't Stop the Beat", right?

Well, I know in the stage show...SPOILERZZZZ

The governor calls during "You Can't Stop the Beat", having seen her performance on TV, and offers her a pardon and scholarship to Essex Community College. This is part of what I mean when I say I wish more of the stage ending had been used.

[Flanger-Hanger]

Well, I know in the stage show...SPOILERZZZZ

The governor calls during "You Can't Stop the Beat", having seen her performance on TV, and offers her a pardon and scholarship to Essex Community College. This is part of what I mean when I say I wish more of the stage ending had been used.

That makes alot more sense.

Also, Anthony, I sappose your ending leads into Hairspray 2: Jailhouse Rock.

[lord-of-sith]

I'm looking forward to seeing this movie. My sister saw it Friday, and cannot stop singing its praises.

And plus, it has Christopher Walken, so that makes me want to see it that much more.

[Anthony]

Also, Anthony, I sappose your ending leads into Hairspray 2: Jailhouse Rock.

Sounds good to me! Maybe they'll sing "The Big Dollhouse" in the sequel!

[The Little Merman]

Fantaaaaaaaastic! The most entertaining movie-musical of the decade, had me smiling the whole way through.

01. Moulin Rouge (2001)
02. Hairspray (2007)
03. Dreamgirls (2006)
04. Chicago (2002)
05. Hedwig and the Angry Inch (2001)
06. The Phantom of the Opera (2004)
07. Rent (2005)
08. The Producers (2005)

[Chernabog_Rocks]

I haven't seen it yet, but I want to know one thing. How was You Can't Stop The Beat? I wish they had kept the Von Tussels verse in it, it was better that way IMO. I also wish they could have kept Big Dollhouse as well. But I'll wait and see how it is before judging the rest of the movie.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

I haven't seen it yet, but I want to know one thing. How was You Can't Stop The Beat? I wish they had kept the Von Tussels verse in it, it was better that way IMO. I also wish they could have kept Big Dollhouse as well. But I'll wait and see how it is before judging the rest of the movie.

I thought that You Can't Stop The Beat was pretty good, but for some reason I thought that it was really dragged out and it took awhile to actually finish the song. That's just what I think, but you'll have to really decide for yourself when you see.

[Dottie]

Which songs from the original Broadway show were cut out or replaced with a new song?
I know the Good Morning Baltimore Reprise did not make the movie, but what else?

Btw, SequelofDisney, I love your new avatar, the Hallows.

[TheSequelOfDisney]

Which songs from the original Broadway show were cut out or replaced with a new song?
I know the Good Morning Baltimore Reprise did not make the movie, but what else?

Let's see:

I Takes Two (I mean, technically it was in there, but there was only about 5 seconds of it. It's a bummber; it's one of my favorites)
The Big Dollhouse (Since there was no jail scene, it had to be taken out)
Good Morning Baltimore (Reprise) (It was going to be in, then it was cut and they made a new song, but it was cut, too)
Cooties (It's only in the end credits)
Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now (It's only in the end credits)

I think that's it, though I'm not 100% sure.

Btw, SequelofDisney, I love your new avatar, the Hallows.

Why thank you Dottie!

[Dottie]

They cut Cooties!!! AWW, that sucks I love Cooties, the lyrics are so awesome.
and Mama I'm a big girl now being cut bugs me a bit as well, but still I think I'll love the movie when I'll go see it. I have never seen the musical, just listened to the OBC recording, so I am still pretty excited.

[SpringHeelJack]

The scene where "Cooties" would be still utilizes it as underscoring, which was a nice touch.

EDITTTT

Also, regarding the earlier question about why Tracy wasn't arrested, apparently they did film a scene where an officer shows up with a warrant, but everyone sings "Lock up them Von Tussles, Go on shake your fanny muscles", but was rejected because it disrupted the flow. I'm not a fan of it, either.

[AwallaceUNC]

I saw <i>Hairspray</i> opening day before going to get HP7. I really loved this movie -- one of the year's best thus far. As Prince Ali said, I had a grin on my face from the opening shot to the end credits. I wasn't familiar with the soundtrack but instantly loved the songs (and have since been listening to the CD over and over).

The cast was really perfect, without exception. I'm not usually a huge Travolta fan but I actually think he made the movie -- a lot of heart in his performance. Of course, I don't want to take away from Blonsky, who was born to be a star. I hope we see more from her. Zac Efron proved he can act and sing outside of <i>High School Musical</i> (even if it's still, well, a high school musical). Even Amanda Bynes, it turns out, can carry a tune!

I think Kelvin is right in that a few of the early attempts to establish the prejudice theme felt forced but that it ultimately didn't really detract. I also think some of the points about the ending are valid, though anything that ends with a song like "Can't Stop the Beat" is easily forgiven.

Overall, a very fun and truly joyful movie.

-Aaron

[Chernabog_Rocks]

I haven't seen it yet, but I want to know one thing. How was You Can't Stop The Beat? I wish they had kept the Von Tussels verse in it, it was better that way IMO. I also wish they could have kept Big Dollhouse as well. But I'll wait and see how it is before judging the rest of the movie.

I thought that You Can't Stop The Beat was pretty good, but for some reason I thought that it was really dragged out and it took awhile to actually finish the song. That's just what I think, but you'll have to really decide for yourself when you see.

The reason it probably felt dragged out was the lack of a verse, or two. I haven't heard the new version recently, but I know the Von Tussels lost a verse which probably made it feel longer than it is.

[bennyb98]

I saw it on Sunday and I was amazed by it!!! John Travolta in drag was amazing, Amanda Bynes was not annoying as I was bracing myself for and Zac Efron was just so dreamy... lol
haha, but it was a great movie.

[SpringHeelJack]

I thought that You Can't Stop The Beat was pretty good, but for some reason I thought that it was really dragged out and it took awhile to actually finish the song. That's just what I think, but you'll have to really decide for yourself when you see.

The reason it probably felt dragged out was the lack of a verse, or two. I haven't heard the new version recently, but I know the Von Tussels lost a verse which probably made it feel longer than it is.

The VonTussels didn't lose a verse, they just lost a line ("Come on, you Von Tussels, Go on shake your fanny muscles!") that would have gone right before the movie's "Ever since we first saw the sun, a man and woman liked to shake it when the day is done" (which on stage was "It seems Von Tussel girls have always tried to please someone). I think why "YCSTB" feels long is because it's a more or less continuous track on the CD, whereas in the movie (and to a lesser extent, the stage show), it's interspersed with dialogue / action scenes, which sort of slow the momentum.

Though I do really like the stage scene where Prudy comes crawling over the first few rows of the audience to crawl up on stage and confront Penny, then admits that while it's not what she wanted, that if "this luscious, cat-like black boy" makes happy, she will accept it.