Critic Reviews
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Pauline Kael, New Yorker
When Divine's Edna Turnblad is on-screen in the sleeveless dresses she's partial to, the movie has something like the lunacy of a W. C. Fields in drag.
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Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Not only Waters's best movie, but a crossover gesture that expands his appeal without compromising his vision one iota; Ricki Lake as the hefty young heroine is especially delightful.
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Janet Maslin, New York Times
The actors are best when they avoid exaggeration and remain weirdly sincere. That way, they do nothing to break the vibrant, even hallucinogenic spell of Mr. Waters's nostalgia.
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Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
The movie is a bubble-headed series of teenage crises and crushes, alternating with historically accurate choreography of such forgotten dances as the Madison and the Roach.
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Desson Thomson, Washington Post
Waters writes warmth into his caricatures, lifting Hairspray above cartoon cult.
Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Cast
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Ricki Lakeas Tracy Turnblad -
Michael St. Gerardas Link Larkin -
Divineas Arvin Hodgepile
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Colleen Fitzpatrickas Amber von Tussle -
Sonny Bonoas Franklin von Tussle -
Ruth Brownas Motormouth Maybell
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