by Gaynell Parker

Created on: September 19, 2008

Having grown up with the original Grease movie and John Travolta going through his dancing years, I wasn't sure I was up to him doing it as an adult. He's come far since those early movies and Welcome Back Kotter. I had heard so many people say they loved the movie and how great it was I finally decided it was time to rent it. I didn't even make it through the first 45 minutes.

If you loved the movie, stop reading now. If you haven't watched it yet, consider what you're in for.

While it appears to have a deep meaning in the racist era and remarks, it's really nothing but an excuse for trashy behavior and flaunting dance scenes. I wanted to like the girl who is the main character, but she didn't do much to inspire that feeling. I couldn't get into the story perhaps because it focused so much on size and color and sterotypes.

I thought Travolta actually did a pretty good job as her mother, and should probably have fast forwarded to the dance scene with him and Christopher Walken as I heard that was really well done. But it was too much: Too loud, too trampy, too much of a statement. There have been enough political movies in the past couple of years, camouflaged as movies that I'm definitely tired of them.

I have to admit, Michelle Pfeiffer is getting pretty good at playing the villainess, and I always love Queen Latifah she just always makes things down to earth. I might have to give it a second try, but not likely. I shouldn't have to persuade myself to like a movie it's supposed to entice me to want to see it.

Part of how I felt while watching Hairspray was what I felt with Napoleon Dynamite only not as bad; I didn't feel as if I were losing brain cells as I watched.

I grew up about a decade later than the setting of the film, but I remember American Bandstand every Saturday morning. I loved dancing with the kids on screen, listening to the new sounds and watching the bands perform. Then it got to be more of a who looks the cutest, who dances the best, and how much body can we shake. It was bad enough that as a teenager I didn't want to watch it anymore, and that's what this movie reminded me of.

It's sad that such things existed, and still exist in some form today, but they don't have to sugar it up and make it something it's not. Most kids aren't going to understand the hidden' messages unless their parents explain it to them it's just another movie to get them wanting something more.

And what was with the second edition with the sub titles? I couldn't believe people would pay to see it again just so they could sing along. I consider that a waste of money. Rent it. Go home and sing to your hearts content.

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