Dreaming of TV stardom

Hairspray

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An adaptation of the 2002 stage musical and a re-make of John Waters's 1988 comedy film of the same name, this terrific 2007 musical stars Nikki Blonsky (pictured, right), Zac Efron, John Travolta (pictured, left), Michelle Pfeiffer, Queen Latifah and Christopher Walken.

Plus-sized poptart Tracy Turnblad (Blonsky) is a typical teen in 1960s Baltimore; rebelling against protective parents (Walken and Travolta) and dreaming of TV stardom, and high-school hunk Link Larkin (Efron). When a detention encounter with African-American classmates from the other side of the social divide gives the wannabe teenybopper the dance moves she needs to make it onto the all-powerful Corny Collins Show, Tracy's dreams could finally be coming true. But will she risk everything for social justice and equality for all?

Answering every question with a song, this footloose and featherlight musical is a sunny delight from start to finish. Enthusiastic turns from the young cast, including an impressive debut by Nikki Blonsky, are more than matched by Grease's Travolta and Grease 2's Pfeiffer, making triumphant returns to the genre. With Walken as Tracy's joke-obsessed dad and James Marsden an OTT delight as the aptly named Corny Collins, it's impossible not to be left with a grin bigger than Travolta's girdle.

Cast John Travolta ... Edna Turnblad Michelle Pfeiffer ... Velma von Tussle Christopher Walken ... Wilbur Turnblad Amanda Bynes ... Penny Pingleton James Marsden ... Corny Collins Queen Latifah ... Motormouth Maybelle Brittany Snow ... Amber von Tussle Zac Efron ... Link Larkin Elijah Kelley ... Seaweed Allison Janney ... Prudy Pingleton Nikki Blonsky ... Tracy Turnblad Taylor Parks ... Little Inez Jayne Eastwood ... Miss Wimsey Paul Dooley ... Mr. Spritzer Jerry Stiller ... Mr. Pinky Directed by Adam Shankman