You can't stop the Blonsky!

Nikki Blonsky is oozing with talent in Hairspray.

Today, while I was waiting for my copy of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows to arrive on my doorstep from Amazon.com, I went to see Hairspray. Having seen the Broadway show based on the John Waters movie, both of which have inspired this new film version, I was expecting it to be light and fun and probably totally forgettable. And the casting of John Travolta as Edna Turnblad, the role originated by Divine in the original John Waters movie and Harvey Fierstein in the Broadway show (a role for which he won the 2003 Tony Award) made me terrified. 

My fears were totally baseless. Though certainly there would have been better actors to play Edna Turnblad (Fierstein, in fact, should have reprised his role!), Travolta did a rather appealing job. Despite the fact that audiences will almost definitely fawn over the fact that they're watching noted star John Travolta in a fat suit playing a woman and despite obvious vocal limitations, he really does do a good job disappearing into the role. I believed him as a middle aged woman - no small feat. 

Though Travolta, Queen Latifah, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken, and Allison Janney in featured adult parts and Elijah Kelley, Zac Efron, Amanda Bynes, and newcomer Taylor Parks in featured young adult parts are all pleasing and adequately talented, there is, however, one shining star hovering over the rest of the cast - newcomer Nikki Blonsky. Shapely, with a powerhouse voice and killer moves to boot, it's astounding that this is her feature film debut. She's worth the price of admission.

The movie is fancifully directed (with realism and nonrealism spectacularly blended), colorfully designed, magnificently choreographed, family friendly while retaining a positive message crusading on behalf of those who are different from the status quo, and very funny. What more is there to say? Go see it!