Who didn't think Hairspray was *that* great?- Page 2

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:00am

Tell us how you REALLY fell SM2. Don't hold back.

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:00am

His voice was too low and it was hard to understand what he was saying.

Did you see it on Broadway when Harvey was Edna? I saw him five times and if anyone was difficult to understand, it would have been him. I thought John Travolta did an excellent job. The way he held that purse in front of him, like he was trying to hide his weight, is something that anyone who has ever been heavy can relate to. And, I was able to understand all the lyrics.

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:03am

Well, StageManager this is the thread for you then...until it gets deleted because heaven forbids we dislike HAIRSPRAY, XANADU, or TARZAN.

[StageManager2]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 3:09am

Am I so transparent?

jim, it's okay to agree to disagree.

Updated On: 7/23/07 at 03:09 AM

[best12bars]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:12am

I loved the movie, but my dad (whose opinion I greatly respect) didn't like it at all. We talked about it last night on the phone.

He also doesn't like the whole Frankie & Annette musical genre in general, so that's a BIG part of the reason. He thinks it's dumb and trivial... so he found "Hairspray" to be dumb and trivial, and he started picking it apart. He found the direction and choreography to be sloppy and uninspired, and the songs merely ordinary, and very repetitive. They all sounded the same, according to him. But he'll also be the first one to tell you that the audience he was with LOVED the movie, and were very vocal about it.

He also thought Travolta was creepy, and couldn't figure out why he was cast or what he was trying to do playing that part that way.

He thought Michele Pfeiffer looked haggard and old, and didn't sing very well... and played the part "one note" the whole way. And he thought Queen Latifah looked very out-of-place in that part, in that neighborhood. She had no "rough edges" at all, strictly polish.

But he liked Nikki Blonsky.

SM2---Why did you hate it?


EDIT: My dad also asked me, "Is this supposed to be campy? Because if it is, I don't get it."

I told him that Hairspray has sequencially had the "camp factor" more and more removed, and this was the least campy of the three versions (original film, Broadway show, musical movie). The original film had plenty of camp. The Broadway show toned it down a lot, and the movie has very little camp factor. It has, instead, a lot of sweetness and definitely humor, but none of the characters are "sending themselves up" and there's not much in the way of "bitchiness for fun's sake" left in this version.

Updated On: 7/23/07 at 09:12 AM

[Kringas]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 9:45am

Your last paragraph is why I think I liked the movie so much and didn't like it on stage. On stage I always felt like there was this winky, to the audience, "See how cute and precious we are?" while I thought movie played it "straight," and was a lot funnier for it.

[matjomae]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:02am

I personally did not enjoy it.

I was bored through some parts, and just didn't find the humor in other. The show I attended last night was sold out, and I just didn't feel like anyone in the audience was really into. No big laughs, no nothing. I don't know. I can't believe there is actually a thread on this board mentiong Oscars. Please come on.

I will say that I loved some performaces, that of James Mardsen and Michelle Phiffer, however John still kinda creeped me out. His singing voice for the character did him in.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 10:42am

SPOILERS below...


I saw the film tonight, and wasn't that impressed considering the raves it got. I enjoyed it, don't get me wrong, but it just wasn't as AMAZING as the reviews would indicate.

Anyone else feel this way?

I feel ya wonderfulwizard11- I thought it was a good film, unlike some other musicals turned into films recently (yeah I'm looking at you Rent). I saw the Hairspray film once, it was ok, have no need to see it again in the theatres, may pick it up when it comes out on dvd, but I just didn't think it was this OMG amazing Second Coming that a lot of people here seem to think that it was...

I actually flat out *hated* some of the changes made from the musical, that I thought weren't necessary, or changed the character too much, or just generally overall made things not as fun as the musical- in no particular order-
- the winner of Miss Teenage Hairspray
- the Von Tussels not 'learning their lesson' and being a part of "You Can't Stop the Beat"
- Tracy *runs away* when people get arrested during the protest??
- the way that "Big Blonde and Beautiful" went from being this anthem song that gets Edna involved in the march in the musical, to being this 'heh- isn't this funny, lookit the fat people like food' number in the film
- the way that Edna is *involved* in the march in the musical, but just so happens to stumble into line and get arrested in the film
- the whole cheating storyline- yes I get that it setup "You're Timeless to Me," but, there was never any question in the musical that Wilbur loved Edna, and yet somehow in the film it's like they had to 'explain' why Wilbur stays with the fat chick, instead of it just being he loves her, no explanation necessary, and so they throw in him rejecting Velma, who is actually just trying to set him up anyway, so it's not really a rejection, and the whole thing was just a hot mess that didn't make any sense (this last one I don't think I'm explaining well- it sounds better in my head :))

And then there's stuff that I just didn't like that had nothing to do with changes from the musical: Amanda Bynes was not a good Penny, Allison Janney was horribly horribly underused (you're making all those other changes from the musical, but you can't create something more for Prudy?), and of course John Travolta just bugs me.

He thought Michele Pfeiffer looked haggard and old, and didn't sing very well... and played the part "one note" the whole way.

See- I basically agree with that, (I'll give him old, but not haggard :)), and yet I *liked* that about her...I always thought that Velma was supposed to be this washed-up has-been of a beauty queen, living through her (younger, hotter, blonder, etc.) daughter, and so I thought it made sense that Michelle Pfeiffer was *not* the OMG best singer evah.

[JHartnow]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:02am

Remember that, even though this new film incarnation is using (pretty much) the same plot and music from the Broadway production, it has been said from the begining that it was going to be different...more of a blend of the original film and the stage production. I believe John Waters said that in an early interview. Little changes...like the wardrobe, hair(Penny's, etc)...or even the song "LADIES CHOICE" stems from the original 1988 movie, when they hold a "Ladies Choice" dance during Tracy's first Corny Collins appearance. The changes/cuts made the new film flow smoother, in my opinion. But that's just the thing...I have my opinion...and you all have yours and I respect them. I've totally enjoyed each incarnation of this wonderful story...and I think the entire HAIRSPRAY production family should be emmensely proud that his original concept has proven to be such a huge hit time and time again.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:25am

Gee, C says that not everyone has to like the movie and gets personally attacked... I wonder why some people might be stifling any negative thoughts about it?

Not to mention that a lot of people seem to think that because the composer posts here, all that should be said about the movie is warm and fuzzies and props to him, and anyone who says otherwise is just being mean or is just jealous. Come on, guys: no artist--or movie--is perfect.

Updated On: 7/23/07 at 11:25 AM

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:53am

Gee, C says that not everyone has to like the movie and gets personally attacked

If you look above, you will see that C said something about threads being mysteriously deleted. I said that sounded like a conspiracy theorist, and he attacked me over my old "Lestat" and Fantasia posts.

I am sorry that some of you didn't enjoy the film. Most people, and critics, did and that's a good thing for the future of film musicals. I don't know what you all expected when you say you expected more. It is an entertaining film with good performances and a terrific score. I am not a shill for the composer so don't attack me because I think the score is one of the most enjoyable to hit Broadway and film since Jerry Herman stopped composing for Broadway.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 11:59am

jimnysf: Well, this isn't the only time I've seen it happening, either. I could point out a number of specific incidents (not involving) you, but I won't.

I'd love to agree with you in that it's a conspiracy theory, but I do remember quite well the Travolta threads...

[Parsley]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:06pm

I am so glad they cut the Von Tussle redemption bit in "You cant stop the beat". It was always somewhat lame on stage and would have been utterly ridiculous on film.

The "timeless to me" set-up made every sense. Surely.

I think Zak Efron was weak, however. Just wooden in every sense. Sort of a pretty boy but just bland bland bland.


O/T I also hope the rumours about that awful Legally Blonde musical being re-done as a film are not true. Does this train wreck really need to be a film again? The original film was ok and far too recent to warrant further incarnation.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:09pm

I loved, loved, loved this movie. Hands down the best movie musical in ages. Better than CHICAGO, DREAMGIRLS, etc.

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:11pm

If you look above, you will see that C said something about threads being mysteriously deleted. I said that sounded like a conspiracy theorist, and he attacked me over my old "Lestat" and Fantasia posts.

Not a conspiracy theorist here, but I personally did see three 'I didn't really like Hairspray'-esque threads in one day get deleted last week- all within I want to say a one hour time frame. I believe they were all by the same poster, but I don't remember off the top of my head. Don't know if they broke some posting rules or whatnot, but they were there, and then they were gone, and I remember this just because it was making me laugh how *quickly* they were being deleted.

I just figured it was because Hairspray is obvs spending a lot of money to advertise on here...heck I saw this thread yesterday and was surprised it was still here this morning, which was why I finally posted my thoughts- I didn't want to bother yesterday figuring it would just get deleted.

[ben4]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:11pm

I hated it as well.

Saw the show twice, both with Fierstien, and while I never really saw what the fuss was about, I atleast thought it was entertaining.

The movie on the otherhand is completely artificial and very badly photographed in my opinion. I honestly didn't laugh once and found myself checking my watch constantly 20 minutes in.

The show itself has always been badly structured, but the changes the screenwriter made, what with the whole seduction stuff between Pfeifer and Walken, just made the matter worse. The film slows to the pace of a snail and leaves you snoring till the end credits.

Also, Travolta is giving one of the worst performances of the year here. He doesn't seem comfurtable in women's clothes and never projects the same flamboyancy or camp value as Fierstien. He honestly just looks like a desperate actor stuck in a fat suit. Perhaps in the day he was a well trained musically talented actor, but in the film I honestly thought he did terrible as both a singer and a dancer. Not to mention that crazy accent that comes and goes.

Technical qualities of the film are also underwhelming. Costumes and sets look cheap and rushed, as though the designers had given no thought at all to how they would look on film.

Overall, I would describe it as one of the worst filmgoing experiences I've had this year.

This one's a 1-star if I ever saw one.
Updated On: 7/23/07 at 12:11 PM

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:12pm

Good? Absolutely. Great? Not by a longshot.

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:14pm

And DREAMGIRLS is a lock for best picture, right?


It's not great by a longshot? Fortunately, the critics disagree. The best reviewed movie musical since...I don't even know what.

[Parsley]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:17pm

I really do not think Edna has to have flambuoyancy or camp factor on screen. At all. That kind of worked on stage despite its lack of credibility but would have been so wrong on the screen.

As for Travolta not seeming comfortable in women's clothes, well Edna is not comfortable at all at the start of the film because of her weight, not having left the house etc... I simply think Travolta conveyed that perfectly. And surprisingly - as I really do not rate him as an actor and was expecting him to be dreadful. But I was so glad to have my misconceptions thrown out.

Fierstein would have been wrong on screen - I think the screen Edna needs to be more subtle than on stage and not dominating the film, thereby letting the other characters scope for developing - for all the brilliance of Fierstein, and on stage he is unrivalled, subtlety is not in his repertoire

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:18pm

Okay...but this thread was asking for individual opinions (obviously from people who didn't think it was great...hence the title of the thread) and I am thrilled it's getting such great reviews; there's some great material and moments in the movie but I found it to be completely overrated.

This isn't a matter of Oscar nominations and concrete opinions as to who will be nominated for an award. It's a matter of opinion and mine was different than that of the critics.

I don't know why I even bother posting my opinions on this board anymore...

[Anakela]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:22pm

I don't know why I even bother posting my opinions on this board anymore...

I do it because I'm a masochist. :)

[jimnysf]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:23pm

As for Travolta not seeming comfortable in women's clothes, well Edna is not comfortable at all at the start of the film because of her weight, not having left the house etc... I simply think Travolta conveyed that perfectly.

I agree 100%!

I really do not rate him as an actor and was expecting him to be dreadful. But I was so glad to have my misconceptions thrown out.

Have you seen "Saturday Night Fever"? He was robbed of an Oscar for that as he gave an incredible, at times heartbreaking performance. He has been in some bad movies over the years, but he is a very good actor, given the right material.

[Parsley]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:23pm

"I do it because I'm a masochist. :) "


dead right - and it is cheaper than paying for the abuse.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:24pm

Haha...I think that's my excuse too.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/23/07 at 12:31pm

Oh, I also have to address James Marsden, who I thought was FANTASTIC.

He's really wonderful in the movie; he may have been my favorite actor in the entire film.

He's got a great voice and he's always been a wonderful actor and this performance is no exception.