Pleasantly plump teenager Tracy Turnblad teaches 1962 Baltimore a thing or two about integration after landing a spot on a local TV dance show.
Director: Adam Shankman
Stars: John Travolta, Queen Latifah, Nikki Blonsky, Christopher Walken, Zac Efron.
Anne Fletcher ... associate choreographer
Joey Pizzi ... associate choreographer
Adam Shankman ... choreographer
Jamal Sims ... associate choreographer
Zachary Woodlee ... associate choreographer
Jerry Mitchell ... stage choreographer (uncredited)
30 songs in the Soundtracks, including at least 2 reprises and 5 duplicates. All Written by Scott Wittman and Marc Shaiman.
Lively songs & choreography. Great plot focused on integration of the races and tolerance of big and large.
I bought a copy because they were cheap and I want all films where CW dances. He and JT have a nice duet in the backyard (or is it a roof?), and they wear fantasy costumes, including an Astaire/Rogers tribute for a few moments. Nice to have JT's dancing skills in the fat suit, but his femininity was more convincing than his heft.
Casts in order of '07 film:
Divine :: John Travolta ... Edna Turnblad
Debbie Harry :: Michelle Pfeiffer ... Velma Von Tussle
Jerry Stiller :: Christopher Walken ... Wilbur Turnblad
Leslie Ann Powers :: Amanda Bynes ... Penny Pingleton
Shawn Thompson :: James Marsden ... Corny Collins
Ruth Brown :: Queen Latifah ... Motormouth Maybelle
Vitamin C :: Brittany Snow ... Amber Von Tussle
Michael St. Gerard :: Zac Efron ... Link Larkin
Clayton Prince :: Elijah Kelley ... Seaweed
Jo Ann Havrilla :: Allison Janney ... Prudy Pingleton
Ricki Lake :: Nikki Blonsky ... Tracy Turnblad
Cyrkle Milbourne :: Taylor Parks ... Little Inez
Alan J. Wendl :: Jerry Stiller ... Mr. Pinky
Sonny Bono :: none ... Franklin von Tussle
Josh Charles :: none ... Iggy
Note that Jerry Stiller had roles in both films. John Waters was a Doctor in the original and a brief cameo as a flasher here. Ricki Lake also had a cameo here as a talent agent (although I didn't see her.)
ZE looks much younger in High School Musical ('06) than here, which is partially due to hairstyle and clothing.
Rated 6.7 (110,781)
New Line Cinema & more, dir. Shankman; 7
