For those of you who aren't familiar with Hairspray: a) what's wrong with you? and b) get thee to the John Waters 1988 classic immediately. It's so great. I always wanted Michelle Pfeiffer to play Debbie Harry in a movie (a job for Kiki apparently) but it looks like reinterpreting Harry's role in a movie is the closest that Pfeiffer will get to that.
I'm more than a little worried about this movie. In it's previous incarnations as a cult comedy classic and as a hit Broadway musical it's been endearingly goofy, a touch perverse and wildly entertaining. But this film replaces the queer genius of Divine and Harvey Feirstein with (gulp) John Travolta. The new typeface at the official website doesn't help instill confidence either. Instead of the Broadway musical's bright airy logo, this one is all garish with black outlines and darkened colors. Ewww.
Plus it's directed by Adam Shankman. Now he knows from choreography, his credits there are abundant and that helps in dance musicals a genre to which Hairspray> easily belongs. In addition to numerous movies he also choreographed one of Buffy the Vampire Slayer's finest moments ever: the musical episode "Once More With Feeling." You know how I feel about Buffy so it's really hard to hate on him. (here is Shankman with Buffy herself --->) But so far as a helmer... unless you count Shankman's The Wedding Planner, A Walk to Remember, Bringing Down the House, The Pacifier, or Cheaper by the Dozen 2 as classics, ...er... you're probably thinking that Hairspray just might suck. Or at least it will be closer to the Rent school of mismanaged musical properties and far from the land of the Chicago bullseye.
But: Michelle Pfeiffer is in it!
Tags: movies, cinema, Hairspray, moviemusicals musicals, animation,film, Michelle Pfeiffer, Divine,John Waters, hairspray
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14 comments:
I'm very worried about this, for all the reasons you mentioned Nat but, the teaser on the site sounds pretty damn good and the stills look good, so i'm praying.
Exciting!
I hadn't realized that Zac Efron, the kid from High School Musical, was cast as Link. Very savvy.
You have to admit tho Queen Laifa singin' "You Can't Stop The Beat" was HOT. I'm excited.
Nathe, I wouldn't be too worried for several reasons.
1. Usually, coreographers are really good musical film directors -cough, Fosse, cough-. Yeah, past Shankman's films have been crappy but at least he's in his medium now.
2. The cast is amazing. Something really to die for!
3. Plus La Pfeiffer!!!
It's RINKO K-I-K-U-C-H-I
I noticed you seemed to be spelling various different ways. Kikuchi.
What?! What the hell are you talking about?! We are talking "Hairspray" here not "Babble".
LOOKS GOOD!
I know this doesn't go here, but you're actually one of the few people that watched a little masterpiece called "duck season" please consider it for your awards!!!
There's a big chance Duck Season is making the final cut into the Best Picture category at the Film Bitch Awards.
Nathe loves that film. He gave it an A-.
Well, considering I - for the most part - liked both Rent and The Producers (but not, as you say, the slam dunk of something like Chicago), I'm looking forward to this. Watching the little clip on the site with Queen Latifah got me pumped actually.
But then... John Travolta. Gives me shudders.
Oh, and yay for the Pfeiff!
she looks so Love Field here, no?
La Pfeiffer looks freaking hot and sassy. Can't wait.
I remember enjoying both Rent and The Producers as well.
Travolta will be fit to the part. He's a good singer and a VERY good dancer. Not worries about him. But Zach Efron?! Geez! That guy cannot sing a jolt!
I saw Cheaper by the Dozen 2 while in the hospital. When you're in Thailand, you feel lucky to at least get some English language programming. I may be wrong but I think the new film version of Hairspray will go the way of the the second filming of The Producers.
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