Hairspray (2007)
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91% of critics liked it
(213 reviews) -
84% of users liked it
(730,966 ratings)
Adam Shankman's adaptation of the stage musical Hairspray, itself an adaptation of the non-musical John Waters film of the same name, stars Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, an overweight high-school student whose only dream is to be on a local Baltimore teen dance program. While her father… More Adam Shankman's adaptation of the stage musical Hairspray, itself an adaptation of the non-musical John Waters film of the same name, stars Nikki Blonsky as Tracy Turnblad, an overweight high-school student whose only dream is to be on a local Baltimore teen dance program. While her father (Christopher Walken) tells her to follow her dreams, her mother Edna (John Travolta in drag) reminds her that she doesn't look like the girls on that show. After impressing the show's host (James Marsden), Tracy earns a coveted spot on the program, but when she becomes a popular addition to the cast, she earns the wrath of the prettiest girl in school -- a girl whose mother (Michelle Pfeiffer) just happens to operate the local television station. Tracy's visit to detention hall opens her eyes to the racial tension on the show, as does the budding relationship between her best friend (Amanda Bynes) and an African-American boy named Seaweed (Elijah Kelley). Thus empowered, Tracy attempts to integrate the races on her favorite program. ~ Perry Seibert, Rovi
- Directed By
- Adam Shankman
- Written By
- Leslie Dixon, Mark O'Donnell
- Genres
- Musical & Performing Arts, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jul 20, 2007 Wide
- Studio
- New Line Cinema
Critic Reviews
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Bob Mondello, NPR.org
For a star-studded big-budget musical, Hairspray does a nice job of retaining the funky sweetness of the original.
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Joe Baltake, Passionate Moviegoer
'Hairspray': An unabashed, unapologetic movie musical that nearly jumps off the screen and challenges all of your silly hang-ups about movie musicals
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Paul Clinton (CNN.com), CNN.com
Bright, campy and wonderfully light, Hairspray reminds us that fun comes in all shapes and sizes. It's also one of the few 'event' movies this summer that doesn't outstay its welcome. That's worth singing about, no matter what your name is.
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Rick Groen, Globe and Mail
It's amiable, it's bouncy, it's got a sweet unknown in the lead flanked by a cast of bankable stars and, providing as it does an amiable and bouncy and sweet escape from a summer's worth of clunky blockbusters.
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John Moore, Denver Post
Hairspray is an infectious aerosol comedy with nearly every hair in place.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
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Cast
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John Travolta
as Edna Turnblad
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Michelle Pfeiffer
as Velma Von Tussle
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Christopher Walken
as Wilbur Turnblad
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Amanda Bynes
as Penny Pingleton
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James Marsden
as Corny Collins
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Queen Latifah
as Motormouth Maybelle
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Brittany Snow
as Amber Von Tussle
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Zac Efron
as Link Larkin
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Elijah Kelley
as Seaweed J. Stubbs
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Allison Janney
as Prudy Pingleton
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Jerry Stiller
as Mr. Pinky
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Paul Dooley
as Mr. Spritzer
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Tabitha Lupien
as Becky
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Nikki Blonsky
as Tracy Turnblad
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Taylor Parks
as Little Inez
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Hayley Podschun
as Tammy
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Kelly Fletcher
as Lu Anne
- Billy Crystal
- Corey Gorewicz








