Monday, July 16, 2007

You can't stop the beat


Hairspray
Originally uploaded by annethelibrarian.

So I admit to being a little anti-Travolta when I walked into tonight's preview screening of "Hairspray" and if you know me at all, you'll know how much it pains me to be anti-Travolta - period.

But me and Lex were dissecting this whole thing via email today and we agreed that the idea of John Travolta in a fat suit and in real drag just seems to miss the point somehow. Anyone who has seen "Hairspray" knows that Edna Turnblad is SUPPOSED to be played by a guy who looks very obviously like a guy. That's the comedy of it. But maybe we were getting too involved, so we suspended judgement and went to the theater.

Man oh man.

I emerged from the movie revved up. The songs, the costumes, the energy - it was all so cool. Queen Latifah is incredible and I won't have a bad word said about her. If I could dance like the cast, even just a little bit, I would be a happy girl. But Michelle Pfeiffer looks like she's wasting away - has she ALWAYS been that emaciated? The woman can act though, she was very good as Mrs Von Tussle. And Christopher Walken as Mr Turnblad is typically kooky but genius.

The movie opens in cinemas here on Friday and I feel very lucky to have seen a screening of it early. And I also can't wait to get back to Sidetracks in Boystown where the fellas do a ripping rendition of the final number in the show - for their own amusement and enjoyment but once the song starts, you really can't stop the beat!

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, but was the dancing as good as Mrs Mack's school musicals?

The number of songs that woman could end with arms up in the air and spirit fingers was amazing!

Unknown said...

Reg, you should get Jem to demonstrate some of Mrs Mac's dance moves - they put our "Push Up" dance to shame. Really.