FutuRéale Magazine

'Pleasantly Plump' teenager Tracy Turnblad achieves her dream of becoming a regular on the Corny Collins Dance Show. Now a teen hero, she starts using her fame to speak out for the causes she believes in, most of all integration. In doing so, she earns the wrath of the show's former star, Amber Von Tussle, as well as Amber's manipulative, pro-segregation parents. The rivalry comes to a head as Amber and Tracy vie for the title of Miss Auto Show 1963.

Hairspray (1988)
Genre: Comedy / Drama / Musical
Director: John Waters (Pink Flamingos)
Starring: Ricki Lake (“The Ricki Lake Show”), Jerry Stiller (“Seinfeld”), Divine (“Pink Flamingos”), Deborah Harry (Lead Singer of Blondie), Sonny Bono (Of Sonny & Cher)
Time: 92 Minutes

Reviewed By: Shawn Shapiro

In the summer of 2007, director Adam Shankman (“The Pacifier”) brought the Broadway musical smash “Hairspray” to theatres. Not only was the film well received by critics and audiences alike, but it quickly became a huge word of mouth smash raking in $119 million. Many people though do not know that the musical it was based on was itself based on an awkwardly, oddball film from 1988 also titled “Hairspray”.

In February 1988, then fledgling upstart company New Line Cinema released a small independent film by “gross-out indie” auteur John Waters, a visionary of the macabre. The film was “Hairspray” his warmest and most mainstream film at the time and ever! As the plot goes (very similar to the musical and 2008 version sans the musical aspect) Tracey Turnblad (Lake) is an overweight Baltimore teen in 1963. After becoming part of a teen dance troupe on the “Corny Collins Show” Tracey starts joining the fight against segregation against the chagrin of the people around her.

Though the 2007 version is colourful and full of catchy songs, this 1988 “indie gem” has a lot going for it as well. Lake is brilliantly ill at ease as the young Turnblad. She gives a performance way beyond her later talk show host depth. Jerry ‘Frank Costanza’Stiller is hilarious as usual as Mr. Turnblad. His funny persona lends to the role and makes you want more. As the cross gendered role of Edna Turnblad (later made famous by John Travolta), the late Divine is the breakout in this film. If there is one reason you must see this for is for Divine’s performance.

So if “Hairspray” (2007) was your thing and you want something a bit edgier and not as squeaky clean, check out the 1988 oddball original.

Happy Viewing!