 | ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids. |
 | OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age. |
 | NOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age. |
Hairspray
- Review Date: September 10, 2005
- PG
- Genre: Comedy
- 1988
Common Sense Media says
A kitschy teen fantasy you can dance to.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that Tracy, the main character, lies to her parents and sneaks off to make out with her boyfriend. She breaks the law by participating in a sit-in for civil rights, and ends up in reform school. A peer spreads lies and rumors about Tracy, including that she's a "whore," was naked in a car, and that she has cockroaches in her hair. Set in the early 1960s, the movie also depicts acts of racism and homophobia. People are called "queer" and "faggots," and a white woman calls Motormouth Maybelle a "native woman," even though she's from Baltimore, too. There is some fighting; Tracy's boyfriend has his legs broken, and another character gets a concussion.
What's the story?
Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake) is a Baltimore high school student who wants nothing more than to dance on Corny Collins' TV show. She practices the mashed potato, the twist, and other current dance crazes (the film is set in 1962) in her living room while her mother (Divine) irons an endless supply of shirts and slacks. When the show holds a hop in her neighborhood, Tracy and her dim-witted best friend Penny Pingleton (Leslie Ann Powers) rush over, big hair and all, to join the fun. But Tracy is more than just another girl at the hop -- she's also one of the best dancers. Soon she finds herself a member of the Corny Collins Council of regular dancers, dating the cutest boy on the show and favored to win Miss Auto Show 1963. But will mean girl Amber (Colleen Fitzpatrick) and her parents (Sonny Bono and Debbie Harry, vamping it up) undermine her chances with their vicious rumors and subterfuge? And will Tracy be able to help her friends Seaweed and Motormouth Maybelle dance on the still-segregated show?
Is it any good?
Like other similarly themed movies, Hairspray encourages viewers to dream of dating the cutest boy, becoming the most popular girl, and having the biggest hair. But it also creates a world more realistic than its counterparts. The hero is a fat girl, and the dancing is segregated. That Tracy deals with all of this with childlike enthusiasm and class speaks well of a movie about a white trash girl who dreams big.
Rickie Lake is easily the best thing about this film. Drag queen Divine is extra fun as Tracy's mother, but it's Lake who grabs and keeps your attention. She imbues Tracy dignity and confidence that you rarely see in celluloid fat girls. Because this is a John Waters movie, there's some gross-out humor, and much name-calling and cursing. The director isn't one for subtlety -- he makes his points with a sledge hammer. Lucky for viewers, Waters also has a campy and silly side, and at least this once, he's overcome with infectious optimism.
Explore, discuss, enjoy
Families can talk about Tracy's confidence and determination. How does Tracy react to name-calling and rumors about her? What does she think of her body, and how does it affect her popularity? How do other people react to her body? Why do some of the white characters seem to fear the black characters? Can you think of any examples where the same fear exists today? How have race-relations changed from the time in which the movie is set?
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- Teens & kids
Teen, 17 years old
June 5, 2011
AGE
WAY better than the musical version
I noticed a lot of people on this page gave "Hairspray" a really scathing review and called it "inappropriate" and stuff. Heck, Common Sense Media gave it an "iffy" for 13. Are you kidding me?!?!? You obviously don't know John Waters very well. Compared to other John Waters movies, this is EXTREMELY tame. Look up "Pink Flamingos" on the internet if you want to see an inappropriate movie by John Waters. Anyway, I think "Hairspray" is a classic! Every kid should see it. It has a really good message. It is in no way inappropriate for little kids (other than the beatnik scene, but even that isn't so bad). This movie is WAY better than the musical version.
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Kid, 12 years old
April 13, 2011
AGE
Ok for tweens. Good for teens!
There is quite alot of Violence, Penny is put in a Mental Institution for dating a Black man. There is a Riot and Link is left in a Wheelchair. There is also some kissing and Flirting. Not as much Music and Fun as the New Version but a Cute movie that shows you to follow your dreams but do whats right(:
What other families should know:
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Kid, 10 years old
August 22, 2010
AGE
HeeHee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I really like this movie. It's very touching but kinda weird and offensive when Penny's mom shocked her with a stick because she's dating a black guy. But I think otherwise it's cool.
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Kid, 11 years old
December 12, 2009
AGE
i hated this movie
What other families should know:
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Adult
April 9, 2008
AGE
Entertainment for the older kid crowd
Hairspray is a fun movie to watch, but be warned, it's not for younger kids. Lots of sexual innuendos and body language. I would not recommend it to children under 13. That being said, you know your own children. If you choose to let them watch it, be prepared to discuss it!
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Teen, 14 years old
December 5, 2008
AGE
I could not stop laughing
It was sooooooooooooooo funny
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Teen, 13 years old
March 23, 2010
AGE
I haven't seen this movie, but thanks to Common Sense Media, I won't. The cursing in this film should make it PG-13,
and the later version is much more mild.
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Kid, 12 years old
February 12, 2011
AGE
Adult classic, not for children under 16
Some parts were inapproprite. They should of made the movie rated R or atleast PG-13 at the very least, instead of PG.
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AGE
a very bad movie, i don't no y u putit iffy for 13-15 -- shouldn't have been PG.
SHOULD BE PG-13, i don't think it's PG.
maybe PG and PG-13.
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| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | John Waters |
| Cast: | Divine, Ricki Lake, Sonny Bono |
| Genre: | Comedy |
| Run time: | 92 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | February 26, 1988 |
| DVD release date: | September 26, 1995 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | language, thematic elements and sexuality. |
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