Hairspray [Movie]

I've already seen a few movies I'd like to talk a little about since I last posted. Let's see if I get to talk about all of them this time. First of all, there's Hairspray. This movie musical is just sheer, old-fashioned fun. The best part is that it isn't that silly kind of comedy... it's actually a really sarcastic (thus, funny) criticism of a big part of american society. It takes place in the '60s, the beginning of the end of all the segregation between black and white people. Basically it follows Tracy's story, a chubby teenager that dreams of being a dancer on a "cool kids" TV show in Baltimore. As in any musical, the soundtrack is of utter importance, and this one gives a lot of fuel to the movie: funny, bright, cheerful songs about some dire times; songs about pride of being black and/or fat (the two groups of people that fight against discrimination in the movie). When you're first introduced to the nicest kids in town they sing:

[The nicest kids in town] throw off their coats
And leave the squares behind
And then they shake it, shake it, shake it
Like they're losing their mind
You'll never see them frown
'Cause they're the nicest kids in town
...
Nice white kids
Who like to lead the way
And once a month
We have our "negro day!"
...
So every afternoon
Drop everything
(bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba)

Who needs to read and write
When you can dance and sing?
(bop-bee-ba, ba-ba-ba-ba, bee-ba)

Forget about your algebra
And calculus
You can always do your homework
On the morning bus
Can't tell a verb from a noun
They're the nicest kids in town

When I heard that song I immediately got excited and thought: OK, this is gonna be good. And good it was. This song sets the tone for most of what's to come; not so subtle, very sarcastic critique of a society about to be swept by a big wave of change. Just great!!! I couldn't not mention one particular song, , that goes something like:

...
but i won't ask you to be color blind
'Cause if you pick the fruit
Then girl, you're sure to find...

The blacker the berry
The sweeter the juice
I could say it ain't so
But darlin', what's the use?

The darker the chocolate
The richer the taste
And that's where it's at...
...now run and tell that!!
...

Come on, that's just awesome!!! :-) Besides all the great music and sarcasm, the cast is really good too. The girl they found to play Tracy (Nikki Blonsky) is perfect: just about with the right "chubbyness", charisma, smile, voice and dancing skills (for the part, that is)... and what can one say about John Travolta playing her 300 hundred-pound mom?? Just brilliant!!!! It's not often you get such a plain fun movie addressing such important topics... I don't know how they did it, but it's an amazing mix of great music, great cast and relevant storytelling... unless you're seriously prejudiced against movie musicals you should try and watch this.