well i finally saw hairspray. the new one. first time i saw hairspray. i hated it. my god, did i ever. ask m. m picked out the original movie (with ricki lake.... that should tip you off right there) for a movie day back when we were in high school. it immediately went to my top 10 most hated movies. couple days later.... had pretty much forgotten about it. then last spring break while i was in florida, my grandparents surprised me with tickets to a play... which one you ask? take a guess. since it was the traveling broadway cast and the tickets were moderately pricey, i couldn't just say no. so i went. i was not happy about it. the movie left such a bad taste in my mouth, i was determined not to enjoy it. then a funny thing happened. turns out our seats somehow got screwed up and out of the 7 of us that went... one ticket/seat was separated from all the others. i decided to take that seat, mainly so i could sulk alone. i took my seat, next 3 or 4 old women. they were talking so loudly that i couldn't help but overhear them. they were talking about the play/movie rent. one of my faves! as i was listening to them, i realized that they were bashing both the play and the movie adaptation... without even seeing them! how close minded! then i realized... heeeyyy now. that's what i'm doing! i had condemned the live version of hairspray even before giving it a chance. i was slightly ashamed of myself.
so i opened my mind. and enjoyed the play much more than the first movie. still didn't love it. but i was glad i gave it a chance. and then last night i watched the new movie. it was very good. i would certainly watch it again.
impressed with:
michelle pfeiffer. i've never really seen any of her movies, and after seeing this one i think i may go on a pfeiffer binge on netflix. although i think i'll skip grease 2...
james marsden. uhh. give me a slice of that, please! loved him in x-men. can't wait to see him in enchanted and 27 dresses. i miss actors who can play different roles. it seems that nowadays many actors end up playing the same role over and over again. diversity = not boring! was also really impressed with his singing.
amanda bynes. i've been a closet fan of hers ever since she was on all that. i think she is talented and cute. she does seem to be falling into that catagory of playing the same role over and over again, however. i wish she would branch out more... but this is a step in the right direction.
elijah kelley. yes please! i've never heard of him before this. but gosh do i hope i get to see more of him. great acting and singing. great face and body. mmhmm.
costumes. i've actually met, had lunch and been in rita's house. shes very nice and extremely talented. great job with this movie. i adored amanda bynes' dress in the closing number. i want one.
dissapointed with:
john travolta. boo, you whore. dude. if your religion doesn't let you dress up in drag... don't take a role that's meant for a drag queen!!! yes you dressed up as a woman, but the role is clearly supposed to be a man in drag. (if you the reader don't understand what i'm talking about, see the original movie... this is the only time i will ever recommend doing so) i was very annoyed with this. singing was mediocre, a far cry from grease. acting wasn't superb either. although i do have to give him kudos for the fat suit.
zac efron. yawn. really that's all i have to say. there was no passion in his performance. i really don't know what all the fuss is about surrounding him. decent voice, yes. not a good actor though. next.
brittany snow. she was good in "john tucker must die" but this was a gigantic step down for her. maybe it was because she was hardly in the movie at all, but i was just really turned off by her performance.
set. when i saw this live, the set was amazing. it was bright and colorful and alive. this set left something to be desired. the corny collins show set was good. but eveything else was very forgetable.
indifferent about:
queen latifah. the protest song was amazing. i got chills. but i think it was more from the gospel-esqe background vocals. her acting is good. chicago anyone? but i can't really appreciate her fully as an actress until she stops picking super lame roles (see taxi, bringing down the house and last holiday)
nikki blonsky. even though i've never seen her on broadway, i still feel like her performance would be much better on stage. i can't bash her too much because she does have killer pipes and she gives girls like me hope that we can get the cute guy in the end.
christopher walken. i really enjoy mr walken. he is a great actor. his unique ability to deliver comedic roles, almost seriously, is something that will never be able to be replicated. this role was a little lack lustre, however. he had some funny lines. but i feel like he would have done a much better job, had he had a better actor to play his "wife".
soundtrack. as a whole, it was a little flat. i think many of the songs sound too similar. without love was the one stand out piece for me. i love listening to rent, spring awakening and the wedding singer soundtracks. i do not think i would enjoy just listening to this one without visual stimulation.
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overall, i give this movie a B-. while it's still not my favorite musical... i do enjoy it much more the third time around.
-t
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