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Title: Hairspray
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| CONSUMER ADVICE |
Parents want to keep in mind that the there is frequent crude and sexual humor in this movie, though far less then what you'd usually get from a John Waters film. Recommended for ages 10 and up. |
The problem with seeing any movie that has two versions that exist is that whatever film you see first will tend to hold a higher place in your heart. For example: The original 1939 “King Kong” is a classic. There is no doubt about that. Being close to one hundred years old means virtually everyone has seen it. Then comes the 2005 Peter Jackson remake, and people scream that it’s inferior to the original. Actually, if you think about it, the remake of “King Kong” is actually the much better film, with better dialog, enhanced effects, and more well rounded characters. It improves upon the original film in virtually every aspect, but for sentimental reasons people still feel the original is the better film. Likewise “Hairspray” was originally a 1988 low budget teen comedy before it was remade into a 2007 big budget musical.
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As always, people who were familiar with the original kept telling me how the remake was inferior in comparison. Some were even outraged by the remake. Well, I saw the remake first and loved it to death. The next day I bought the DVD of the original “Hairspray” (hey, it was only $8.99), and watched it with excitement. Well, after watching the original I can see why some fans of it would be fairly upset with the remake. The storyline of “Hairspray” is obviously similar to the remake, in the sense that it revolves around heavy teenager Tracey (played in this movie by a pre-talk show host Ricki Lake) who’s life dream is to be on the “Corny Collins Show,” the local Hop-like show where teenagers dance to popular rock and roll songs. If you’ve seen the remake, you already know Tracey gets on the show and immediately causes a stir.
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First off, she wants to turn “Negro Day” into “Everyday” (and really, that just gets more and more catchy every time I type it). Second, her spunky attitude is enough to put popular girl Amber in her place. Third, she’s FAT! How dare she claim to be pretty and smart when she’s as big as a cow? This is all familiar territory, but there is one difference: This is all portrayed with a layer of cynicism. This is the part of the review where a glorified comparison will take place, so I apologize to everyone who is looking for a straight out review. I know a reviewer shouldn’t spend time comparing to a remake in a review, and should review the movie on it’s own terms, but at this point comparisons are inevitable. The new version of “Hairspray” was a big hit with me because of it’s energy, charm, and sweetness.
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Of these three qualities, only the energy remains in the original. Ricki Lakes performance of Tracey is that of a spoiled, rebellious teenager then that of a sweet hopeful. Nikki Blonskys performance was so sweet and bubbly you wanted to cuddle with her. Rikki Lakes performance, on the other hand, was far less likable. Also fatal to the movie is that of Edna, Tracey’s overweight mom, who is played here by real life transvestite Divine. As a woman Divine is not convincing. A high set of vocal cords helps, but there is no way you can see anything but a man in drag in this movie. On top of this, Edna isn’t the insecure woman in this movie, but kind of a pain. She’s against her daughter getting on TV until Tracey gets on TV and starts making money, where Edna then wastes no time in cashing in on her daughters success.
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Tracey’s father, played by Jerry Stiller, does far less in this movie then Christopher Walken in the remake. In fact, Stillers part is so small it borderlines useless. I guess it would be important to note that the original “Hairspray” is not a musical. In fact, the songs are completely different. On “Corny Collins” the characters dance to popular (and obscure) 60's songs, but outside the show the characters talk about segregation, parent problems, and weight issues. The movie seems to be a satire on the 60's themselves, looking at old morals and ideals with a critical and cynical eye, ready to point out humanities flaws and ignorant ways in favor of a few laughs.
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Dare I say it, the movie seems to suggest that John Waters himself hated the 60's. He most likely felt the 60's was a troublesome time for him, and I don’t blame him. It was difficult to be black in the 60's, it was even tougher if you were gay. In a strange way, “Hairspray” actually feels like a way Waters can vent his frustrations about the 60's in a way that is accepted because it’s funny. Well, at least it is if your in the right frame of mind. I personally didn’t care much for this version of “Hairspray.” It had some funny moments, and some of the songs were catchy, but the flavor of the film is very different. The remake tasted like cotton candy while the Waters film tastes like dark chocolate; tasty but bitter. For all the funny jokes that are in this movie, there’s just this meanspirited aura that surrounds it.
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None of the main characters come off as likable. In fact, everyone in this movie are pretty unlikable. Many of the gross out gags just didn’t work for me. The lack of energy was extremely disappointing. This is where having two versions of a movie that are very different in their storytelling comes in handy. Fans of this version of “Hairspray” may have been disappointed by the bubbly nature of the remake, but I found the remake to be far more embraceable and lovable. I could enjoy the remake for all it’s faults because it was so honest in it’s cuteness. The original though is a bit too mean spirited for me, and isn’t nearly as much fun as it should be. I acknowledge that it’s unfair to make comparisons, but I can’t help it, I like the remake so much more then I like this version.
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