 | 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 (2007)
- Review Date: November 19, 2007
- PG
- Genre: Musical
- 2007
Common Sense Media says
Infectiously fun musical with a message.
Parents say
QUALITY
Kids say
QUALITY
What parents need to know
Parents need to know that this musical adaptation of the Broadway hit will appeal to tweens thanks to stars like Amanda Bynes and High School Musical's Zac Efron. It's a bit tamer than the John Waters original -- there's less cursing and fighting -- but the themes are the same: accepting people's differences, whether because of their looks or their skin color. Kids younger than 11 will miss much of the meaning while still being entertained by the characters and the production. Some of the song lyrics are a tad sexually suggestive: "I won't go all the way/but I'll go pretty far" and "The darker the berry/the sweeter the juice" are just two examples. Since it's set in the early '60s, African Americans are called "Negroes" (and, in one case, "lawn jockeys"). There are a lot of weight-based insults and one case of parental abuse: Mrs. Pingleton literally ties Penny to her bed and calls her a "devil child." In one scene, three "bad girls" are shown smoking in the school bathroom, while adults sit in a smoke-filled teachers' lounge.
What's the story?
HAIRSPRAY starts with an infectious song -- "Good Morning Baltimore" -- that sets the cheery tone of Adam Shankman's feature-film adaptation of the Broadway adaptation of John Waters' campy 1988 comedy. The update, also set in 1962 Baltimore, has slightly less kitsch than the original -- but, thanks to the fabulous soundtrack and adorable cast, even more charm. Newcomer Nikki Blonsky makes heroine Tracy Turnblad zaftig and adorable. Tracy doesn't let her plus-sized body keep her from dancing like a pro, trying out for the local TV station's American Bandstand copycat The Corny Collins Show, and crushing on the show's dreamy hunk Link Larkin (High School Musical star Zac Efron). Her favorite episodes aren't the lily-white ones hosted by Corny (James Marsden) but the "Negro Day" specials hosted by Motormouth Maybelle (a big and blonde Queen Latifah). When Tracy finally lands a spot on the show -- much to the chagrin of skeletal station manager/racist ice queen Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer) -- the first thing she tells Corny is that she wishes "every day could be Negro Day." Tracy develops such a faithful following that she convinces her oversized mom, Edna (John Travolta in layers of drag), to leave the house for the first time and be her manager.
Is it any good?
Director (and choreographer) Shankman, who's best known for formulaic romantic and family comedies, has done what 2005's The Producers utterly failed to do: capture both the essence of the Broadway show's magic and the original film's timeless camp value to create a memorable movie musical. (Oh, and that cutie pie Efron definitely helps, too.)
Travolta should consider his role a gift, since he's more enchanting as Mrs. Turnblad than he's been on screen in more than a decade. And as Mrs. Turnblad's husband, Wilbur, Christopher Walken again perfects his mastery of slow talking and soft shoeing. Waters himself couldn't have cast a better mom and pop odd couple. Some of the best songs and moves belong to the "Negro Day" dancers, like smooth-talking Seaweed (Elijah Kelly, who deserves an Efron-esque following of his own after this stand-out performance). And Queen Latifah's ballad "I Know Where I've Been" touchingly accompanies a civil-rights march calling for on-air desegregation.
What families can talk about
Families can talk about prejudice and racism. Mrs. Von Tussle assumes that Tracy isn't talented because of her size, but Tracy proves her wrong. Tracy's determination and self esteem are strong despite her weight. How are overweight kids discriminated against today? What about minorities? Even though there's no more segregation, do kids of color get picked on for being different? Kids: What does Tracy teach us about judging people (and their abilities) by their looks? Families who've seen the original (or the Broadway show) can also talk about how this movie is similar to -- and different from -- the other incarnations.
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AGE
You'll Want More Hairspary!
Here we go! A groovy, funny, goodhearted musical that the whole family will love. Also the film supplies a great story, great morals, and great musical numbers.
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Kid, 11 years old
April 21, 2011
AGE
The Best!!!
It the best movie ever! John Travolta was hilarious as a woman. Very good movie!!!
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AGE
Great movie with great message
Here is my review for this movie
Violence: **Cops push segragators at a rally and march, and in anger, Penny's mom ties her to her bed.
Sex:**** One of the main plot lines is about a crush and some of the song lyrics are iffy. For example, the antagonist's mom sings that she "screwed the judges" when she competed for the Miss Baltimore crown. A few kisses. One implied flasher.
Language:*** minor to iffy language. Example, when he stands up for Tracey, Link tells a teacher to kiss his a**.
Dinking:** people smoke and drink
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Kid, 11 years old
November 24, 2011
AGE
Awesome!
A little bit racist in some ways. I know kids my age enjoy this movie. Especially Zac Efron's appearances!
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AGE
This is the Worst Musical I Have Ever Seen
Oh my goodness. Hairspray. Where do I begin?
I strongly dislike this movie for multiple reasons. For one thing, the songs are just bad. They're all super corny and kind of make me cringe when I listen to them. That's not to say I don't like musicals, I very much like musicals. I'm in 2 musicals right now. My favorite things to do are singing and acting. I just don't like "Hairspray." Another thing I don't like about this is that they made it tamer than the original. There was absolutely no reason to change anything about the original movie. The original movie was extremely tame compared to other movies by John Waters. Another problem I have with this is when I'm watching it, it doesn't feel like a John Waters movie. I'm a huge John Waters fan, and I feel like they took all of his quirky style out of the story. This feels like just any other boring old movie, whereas in the original, it felt unique. If you want to see "Hairspray," you should definitely watch the original one directed by John Waters.
HOWEVER, there was one thing I did like about this movie: John Travolta. But John Travolta doesn't beat Divine (the original Edna Turnblad).
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AGE
The Best!
This is one of my favorite movies! Although it does have rasism and language. Not appropriate for under 10.
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AGE
Watch it first and decide if your kids are ready
I just watched this with my 7-year-old daughter. She says "It was very very good. The music was great. I loved her dance and that she beat the villain." I wasn't sure this was for little kids, and we watched it together. The part about the civil rights movement was strong stuff, and kind of hard for a child to grasp. But it is important, and a good opportunity to discuss it. The language was mostly fine, words like d**n and a**, but I did have to explain why "Negro" isn't appropriate language today and why it was correct to use it in the movie. There were teens smoking in the bathroom, but again, she knows smoking isn't a good idea. At one point, Pfeiffer's character tries to break up the heroine's parents' marriage, which is not a kid-friendly scene, even if it isn't very graphic. There are some suggestive moments but mostly it is kissing or confined to dance moves. There are police portrayed as bad guys obstructing constitutional rights, but since that is historically accurate I didn't mind it. On the whole, though, it is a lovely, upbeat movie about courage and dancing.
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AGE
I love this movie. I've never seen the older version, but this was really good! Didn't a guy play as Tracy's mom? LOL!
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Kid, 12 years old
December 2, 2011
AGE
Hairspray 101
Hairspray is a fine movie for kids 11+. Tracy is a great role model - she keeps going even thought people are always calling her names and such, and she does what she loves even though most people think she can't. I had a little problem with the sexuality in this movie - in one scene ( while they are singing ) they mention a "flasher" and this guy opens up his jacket ( he has his back to us ) and women scream. There are a few kisses, but nothing to intense. Thanks for reading! :)
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Kid, 9 years old
September 14, 2011
AGE
good movie
Good movie, MILD smoking in one or two scenes, one bum drinks it up in a bar. Language: well, the worst is probably whore, negro, lawn jockey, devils child and weight insults. Sex:
Mrs Von tussle throws herself on Mr. Turnblad (If it was not for this i'd say 13 and up). As well as some mild sexual outfits, dances and lyrics or lines.
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| Topics: | music and sing-along |
| Studio: | New Line |
| Director: | Adam Shankman |
| Cast: | John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Nikki Blonsky |
| Genre: | Musical |
| Run time: | 120 minutes |
| Theatrical release date: | July 19, 2007 |
| DVD release date: | November 20, 2007 |
| MPAA rating: | PG |
| MPAA explanation: | language, some suggestive content and momentary teen smoking. |
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