You Can’t Stop the Beat

The 2007 remake is pretty much the same as the original 1988 film. Tracy Turnblad is a big girl with big hair, big dreams, and a big heart in a small town called Baltimore, where racism is pretty much exercised in the 1960s. Despite being “different”, her dancing feet and optimism landed her a spot on the popular teen dance program, The Corny Collins Show, hosted by the charismatic Corny Collins and the big, blonde and beautiful Motormouth Maybelle (for Negro Day).

The station’s manager and former Miss Baltimore Crabs, Velma Von Tussle would stop at nothing to kick Tracy’s ass off the show in fear of Tracy beating her daughter, Amber Von Tussle, for the Miss Teenage Hairspray crown. But not even the police could dampen Tracy’s spirits, now that she has successfully managed to snatch the heart of her long-time crush Link Larkin, the show’s male star and Amber’s beau. Together with her equally big mother, Edna Turnblad, best friend Penny Pingleton, and Motormouth Maybelle’s son Seaweed, they paved the way for the biggest change a small town like Baltimore could accept in the 1960s.

I always find myself smiling after watching Hairspray. It’s the kind of “feel good movie” I’d never get tired of watching month after month.

I’ve yet to see the original film, courtesy of my friend who’s also a fan. But here are the pictures of the 1988 and 2007 Hairspray cast.

1988: Colleen Fitzpatrick / 2007: Britanny Snow

1988: Debbie Harry / 2007: Michelle Pfeiffer

1988: Shawn Thompson / 2007: James Marsden

1988: Ruth Brown / 2007: Queen Latifah

I’m pretty excited for the Hairspray Musical this coming Decemeber. Tim Espinosa and Madel Ching will be playing the lead roles of Link Larkin and Tracy Turnblad. There’s this giddy feeling again, pretty much the same when I started salivating for Avenue Q’s Farewell Run last June. I can’t wait to see it.

As far as press releases go, here’s the cast:

You really can’t stop the beat, you know.
And my heart is beating twice as fast with excitement.