Hairspray
2007 · Directed by Adam Shankman
Original language: English
- comedy
- romance
- drama
The story
Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad auditions to be on Baltimore's most popular dance show - The Corny Collins Show - and lands a prime spot. Through her newfound fame, she becomes determined to help her friends and end the racial segregation that has been a staple of the show.
What it’s like
Bright, saturated 1960s color with candy pinks, teal and tangerine, and sets that look like a cheerful pop-art cartoon of Baltimore: pastel diners, bouffant hair stacked like architecture, and a high-gloss television studio that glows under hot stage lights. The camera stays lively and mobile, swooping along dance numbers and cutting on the beat, so the frame itself seems to bounce. The score is pure early-sixties girl-group pop and Motown-style brass, with big ensemble vocals that fill every room, and the soundtrack is loud, warm and infectious. Its vibe is sunny, buoyant and openhearted, the kind of movie for a lazy Saturday afternoon, a party with friends, or a comfort rewatch when you want to feel lifted. The pace is brisk and joyful, with the emotional arc of a bright, self-assured girl who refuses to be shrunk by others and pulls her community along with her. Intensity is very gentle: some teasing and bullying, a few tense moments of prejudice and a police confrontation, but no real violence or gore, and romance stays chaste and sweet. It suits people who want warmth, dancing, a lot of heart and a message about kindness, especially those who want something uplifting with a light touch on serious themes.
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