In a tepid summer of tired sequels and action orgies this film is a breath of fresh air. I am not usually a big fan of musicals, but this one won me over! The young cast seems to be bursting with joy and the experienced performers are clearly having a ball, as well. The songs are exuberant and the story, well-known to many because of its long run as a stage show (based on a 80's flick and starring Ricki Lake at one point), is very good for a musical and even addresses the civil rights' issues of the 60s.
Teenage newcomer, Nikki Blonsky, won the celebrity lottery and landed the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, a Baltimore high school student who is obsessed with becoming one of the dancers on the local Corny Collins Show and stealing the heart of the lead dancer, Link Larkin (Zac Efron). Tracy's mother, Edna Turnblad, played frighteningly well in drag by John Travolta, is worried that Tracy will get hurt. This role has traditionally been played in drag going back to the 1988 feature with the famous transvestite, Divine. Christopher Walken is great as Tracy's dad, who supports her dream. Look for a funny cameo by original writer, John Waters as a neighborhood flasher. Michelle Pfeifer and Brittany Snow star as the nasty mother/daughter team of Velma and Amber Von Tussle who are determined to prevent any changes to lily white, homogeneous look of the show. Queen Latifah and Elijah Kelley's characters of Motormouth Maybelle and Seaweed, performers on the show's 'Negro Day' march to fight for the rights of all, when even that tiny representation on the air is threatened. Tracy disregards the risk and marches with them.
Well, I don't want to start gushing, but this is the most appealing and energetic musical since Grease and if you liked that wonderful fifties romp, then this should be a can't-miss movie for you. The performances and charming cast combine with a strong story, along with catchy tunes and nifty dance numbers, to create a winner that will be remembered long after the summer and all of its mediocre films have been forgotten.
(This work was first posted on realmoviereview.com)
Teenage newcomer, Nikki Blonsky, won the celebrity lottery and landed the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, a Baltimore high school student who is obsessed with becoming one of the dancers on the local Corny Collins Show and stealing the heart of the lead dancer, Link Larkin (Zac Efron). Tracy's mother, Edna Turnblad, played frighteningly well in drag by John Travolta, is worried that Tracy will get hurt. This role has traditionally been played in drag going back to the 1988 feature with the famous transvestite, Divine. Christopher Walken is great as Tracy's dad, who supports her dream. Look for a funny cameo by original writer, John Waters as a neighborhood flasher. Michelle Pfeifer and Brittany Snow star as the nasty mother/daughter team of Velma and Amber Von Tussle who are determined to prevent any changes to lily white, homogeneous look of the show. Queen Latifah and Elijah Kelley's characters of Motormouth Maybelle and Seaweed, performers on the show's 'Negro Day' march to fight for the rights of all, when even that tiny representation on the air is threatened. Tracy disregards the risk and marches with them.
Well, I don't want to start gushing, but this is the most appealing and energetic musical since Grease and if you liked that wonderful fifties romp, then this should be a can't-miss movie for you. The performances and charming cast combine with a strong story, along with catchy tunes and nifty dance numbers, to create a winner that will be remembered long after the summer and all of its mediocre films have been forgotten.
(This work was first posted on realmoviereview.com)