Hairspray (2007) - Glorious time with Shankman's inspired musical

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Fizzy, fun-promising poster for Adam Shankman's Hairspray, centering on the hairdos of the main cast

Tracy is the biggest fan of Collins' dance shows on television in Baltimore in 1962, and of course one day she ditches school in order to take part in an audition for the show. But her liberal mind clashes with the leader of the show ...

 

Hairspray is written by Leslie Dixon (Pay It Forward (2000)), based on the 2002 Broadway musical that in turn was based on John Waters' same-titled 1988 film, and directed by Adam Shankman (The Wedding Planner (2001)).

Outstanding shooting star Nikki Blonsky (The English Teacher (2013)) as Tracy is a trouper and imbues the film with an irresistible, happy energy throughout the simple, good story. James Marsden (The Stand (2021-21, miniseries)), Elijah Kelly (Heavens Fall (2006)), Zac Efron (17 Again (2009)), Christopher Walken (The Deer Hunter (1978)) and John Travolta (Ladder 49 (2004)) in a wild and fantastic cross-dressing fat suit-draped performance that has to be seen, - are all terrific. The good songs include Good Morning Baltimore and (You're) Timeless to Me, the latter a duet between Travolta and Walken. 

The hair, makeup and prosthetics job is killer. Michelle Pfeiffer (Frankie and Johnny (1991)) is catty and looks utterly amazing but is no singer, which regrettably shows. 

Hairspray is deeply charming, if a bit overlong, and it certainly inspires one to search for Waters' original as well. 

 

Related post:

 

Adam Shankman: A Walk to Remember (2002) or, Annoying Girl and Idiotic Guy Find Each Other and Love Like the Wind, Which You Can Feel But Not Touch

 

Watch a trailer for the movie here

 

Cost: 75 mil. $

Box office: 203.6 mil. $

= Box office success (returned 2.71 times its cost)

[Hairspray premiered 10 July (Los Angeles) and runs 116 minutes. Travolta was paid 14 mil. $, 3 of them up-front, for his performance in the film. Efron was paid 100k $. Shooting took place from September - December 2006 in Toronto, Ontario and in Baltimore, Maryland. The film opened #3, behind fellow new release I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and holdover hit Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, to a 27.8 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent 2 more weekends at the top 5 (#4-X-#5), grossing 118.8 mil. $ (58.3 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were the UK with 25.7 mil. $ (12.6 %) and Australia with 14.4 mil. $ (7.1 %). The film was nominated for a BAFTA, 3 Golden Globes and a Grammy, among other honors. Roger Ebert gave it a 3.5/4 star review, translating to a notch over this one. Shankman returned with Prop 8: The Musical (2008, short) and theatrically with Bedtime Stories (2008). Travolta returned with a voice performance in Bolt (2008) and physically in The Taking of Pelham 123 (2009); Efron in 3 TV and short credits prior to his theatrical return in Me and Orson Welles (2008); and Blonsky in Queen Sized (2008, TV movie) and theatrically in Harold (2008). Hairspray is certified fresh at 92 % with a 7.80/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of Hairspray?

A Walk to Remember (2002) or, Annoying Girl and Idiotic Guy Find Each Other and Love Like the Wind, Which You Can Feel But Not Touch

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The two young stars in a loving embrace on this pleasant poster for Adam Shankman's A Walk to Remember

  
The high school's tough boy opens his eyes to its quiet outsider achiever girl after a near-fatal, stupid accident, - but the girl carries a heavy secret.

A Walk to Remember is written by Karen Janszen (Dolphin Tale (2011)), adapting the same-titled 1999 novel by Nicholas Sparks (The Choice (2007)), and directed by Adam Shankman (Cosmo's Tale (1998)).
It is a very slow (and dull) teenage romance, which appeals strongly to certain young segments, (teenage girls namely.) The story is served and acted with sincerity, and solid values like love, faith and loyalty get a push.
But these circumstances are hindered by the protagonists mostly being very aggravating (her) and braindead (him). The music video aesthetic that was popular at the time also doesn't heighten A Walk to Remember, which is banal and overly simplified.

 

Related post:

 

2002 in films and TV-series - according to Film Excess [UPDATED I] 

Watch a trailer for the film here

Cost: 11.8 mil. $
Box office: 47.4 mil. $
= Big hit (returned 4.02 times its cost)
[A Walk to Remember premiered 23 January (USA) and runs 102 minutes. Sparks had written the novel inspired by his sister, who succumbed to cancer in 2000. Shooting took place from April - May 2001 in North Carolina. The film opened #3, behind holdover hits Black Hawk Down and Snow Dogs, to a 12.1 mil. $ first weekend in North America, where it spent another week in the top 5 (#3) and grossed 41.2 mil. $ (86.9 % of the total gross). The 2nd and 3rd biggest markets were Mexico with 1.4 mil. $ (3 %) and Australia with 1 mil. $ (2.1 %). Roger Ebert gave the film a 3/4 star review, translating to 2 notches higher than this one. Shankman returned with Monk (2002, TV-series) and theatrically with Bringing Down the House (2003). Mandy More (This Is Us (2016-20)) returned in Elton John music video Original Sin (2002) and theatrically in Try Seventeen (2002); Shane West (Hollywood Rules (2011)) in A Time for Dancing (2002). A Walk to Remember is rotten at 27 % with a 4.11/10 critical average at Rotten Tomatoes.]

What do you think of A Walk to Remember?