Hairspray

By Melissa Rose Bernardo
Published on August 16, 2002 04:00AM EDT

Cross Grease with Little Shop of Horrors and you have an inkling of the giddy joy this disc imparts. Fiendishly witty songwriters Marc Shaiman (of the South Park film’s ”Uncle F — -a” fame) and Scott Wittman have given John Waters’ 1988 flick a groovy ’60s beat, and deliciously campy actors Marissa Jaret Winokur (the big-boned gal who’s gotta dance) and Harvey Fierstein (her mom, naturally) sell it for all it’s worth. But frankly, this show sells itself.

Related Articles

Max documentaries
The 25 best documentaries on Max right now
Snoop Dogg, Cookie Monster, Martha Stewart
Snoop Dogg and Cookie Monster surprise Martha Stewart with birthday cake at Olympics: 'It's all cookies!'
Sydney Sweeney, Britney and Justin, Harry Styles
Who should play Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, and more in The Woman in Me biopic? EW weighs in
Britney Spears
Britney Spears biopic movie based on Woman in Me memoir in the works with Wicked director
Shawn Levy, Ryan Reynolds, Madonna, and Hugh Jackman attend the Deadpool & Wolverine World Premiere at the David H. Koch Theater on July 22, 2024 in New York City.
Madonna brings Marvel 'down on our knees' with surprise appearance at Deadpool & Wolverine premiere
Split photo of Madonna in 1985 and 2024
Madonna returns to work on delayed biopic, reveals movie title Who's That Girl with Julia Garner still set to star
Ariana Grande attends the 96th Annual Academy Awards on March 10, 2024 in Hollywood, California.
Ariana Grande calls out double standard of voice-change criticism: 'God forbid I sneeze like Glinda'
The Iron Claw, High School Musical, and Neighbors
The 15 best Zac Efron movies and TV shows, ranked
Must List collage of Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop Axel F; SWV; Vanessa Williams
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, SWV's Tiny Desk, and Vanessa Williams' 'Legs' top this week's Must List
Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston in The Bodyguard
Kevin Costner recalls fighting for Whitney Houston's iconic a cappella moment in The Bodyguard
Celine Dion is seen arriving at the Alice Trully Hall on June 17, 2024 in New York, New York
The 5 most heartbreaking moments from Celine Dion's documentary, I Am: Celine Dion
Celine Dion at the "I Am: Celine Dion" NY Special Event Screening held at the Alice Tully Hall on June 17, 2024 in New York City, New York
Celine Dion reveals why she came forward with stiff-person syndrome diagnosis in documentary: 'The lie is too heavy'
Mae (Amandla Stenberg) in Lucasfilm's THE ACOLYTE, exclusively on Disney+
The Acolyte star Amandla Stenberg drops new song in response to ‘intolerable racism’
Joseph Gordon-Levitt attends The Art Of Elysium's 2024 HEAVEN Gala at The Wiltern on January 06, 2024 in Los Angeles, California.
Joseph Gordon-Levitt always creates a playlist for whatever character he’s playing
Must List collage of Chappell Roan and Sabrina Carpenter; Lily Gladstone in Fancy Dance; Reece in America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
Fancy Dance, Netflix's Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders docuseries, and Sabrina Carpenter top this week's Must List
Sumer Movie Preview 2024 collage of Ryan Reynolds as Deadpool; Glen Powell in Hitman; Will Smith and Martin Lawrence in Bad Boys; Anya Taylor-Joy in Furiosa
Your guide to summer movies 2024: From Furiosa to Bad Boys 4