Saturday 28 July 2007

Hairspray (1988)

I’d forgotten just how delightful John Waters’ Hairspray was. The plot is corny and lightweight but the film more than makes up for this in sheer good humour and campy outrageousness. I’d also forgotten how good Ricki Lake was as the heroine. Add to that some truly awesomely camp sets and wonderfully excessive costumes and of course hairdos (not to mention fabulous dance numbers) and you have a movie that you just have to love. Divine is divine as Tracy’s mother. Among the supporting players Sonny Bono and Debbie Harry are particularly good as the parents of Tracy’s arch-rival Amber von Tussle. Like his slightly later Cry-Baby it’s Waters indulging himself in nostalgia for an era he obviously regards with mingled horror and affection, and a great deal of amusement. It’s all fabulous fun.

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