Hairspray 1988 by AverageMansReviews

Hairspray 1988 by AverageMansReviews

Review Time

Warning: I should massively point out that this film is set to the backdrop of the 1960's and consequently this project has the outlook. There is flashing effects/colourful effects/racism, white on black violence, police brutality and cultural divide/torture/electrocution/medical

To be brutally honest I don't want to spend too much time on this content and you will understand why in due course: in a nutshell; it is the 1960's in Baltimore; we meet Tracy Turnblad [Ricki Lake:] a plump teenager , I refuse to make any negativity about her figure, which is outspoken, that wants to appear on a popular local TV program The Corny Collins Show; obviously the presenter's name is Corny Collins [Shawn Thompson:] a modern individual that is open to change, be it a different shape or different background. "Motormouth" Maybelle Stubbs [Ruth Brown:] she knows a change is coming once a month aimed at other African-Americans and other of ethnic backgrounds; rhythm and blues [I know Caucasian people could like this genre of music, but work with me here; I don’t want to get cancelled] I really can't put her show name here [unless as I have already referenced I would like to be cancelled; which I say no thank you to that.] Tracy's parents; her mother and father; Edna Turnblad/Arvin Hodgepile [Divine:] she means well and Hodgepile as owner of the TV station WZZT and Wilbur Turnblad [Jerry Stiller:]  Stiller has also worked on the remake of this film in 2007 as Mr. Pinky; the owner of the shop Mr. Pinky's Hefty Hideaway.

Generally speaking: the entirety of this film is garbage; it seems to do so much more harm than good, which there is nothing good about this film, so it goes on for roughly 92 minutes, which this is so slow and painful, but that isn't worst thing about this film actually I could put up with that in comparison to the content and the layout of this content. Once again it seems to skate around really important issues such as the cultural/social divide between Caucasians and African-Americans, I mean it makes references to disabled people using the word spastic [yes I am cleared to use this word as I am one, well at least we are being included I guess that is a positive] and mental health.

I mean yes I may not be African-American or any ethnic background nearby to African-American, but if you are going to bring up this cultural problem, can you do it properly and give it the respect it rightly deserves, instead of this absolute garbage, this is one of those rare occasions where the remake of this film Hairspray 2007 is flawless and this one in comparison is just shameful, I should just point out that this is not a musical and the 2007 is a musical.

What can I tell you about the character developments and performances?; The character types are barely adequate and the performances don't stand out, in fact in hindsight they get cheapen, by other aspects of this film which I have already discussed [but then again what do I know; when you get to the bottom of this content this will make much more better sense.]

This film receives: 1/10, this film is poor; as I have already indicated it seems to completely miss the point of the subject matters, to the point where I have no idea how the following was achieved. This film also has awards accredited to it; 1 Winner National Film Preservation Board, USA 2022 National Film Registry 2022 Winner National Film Registry National Film Preservation Board. 7 Nominees Film Independent Spirit Awards 1988; Best Feature Rachel Talalay, the following is from the same award ceremony/event Best Director John Waters [as Dr. Fredrickson; briefly and I don't feel comfortable saying this he is brought in, because dating somebody of a different culture divide is seen as an illness, I apologise for this, what can I say this film is unpleasant, I mean I know this film was based in the 1960s, but as I have already shown they haven't really dealt with any of these subject matters nowhere near properly.] Best Female Lead Ricki Lake, Best Supporting Female Debbie Harry [as Velma Von Tussle: briefly demanding mother towards her daughter Amber von Tussle,] Best Supporting Male Divine and Best Screenplay John Waters. Sundance Film Festival 1988 Grand Jury Prize Dramatic John Waters