Hairspray was quite a revelation upon its initial release in 1988; it showed the world that John Waters and his cast of misfits were capable of crossing over to the mainstream with their madcap gross-out elements intact. However, Waters uses those elements to make big-picture statements regarding body image, equality, and inclusion. Ricki Lake makes her film debut as Tracy Turnblad, a plus-sized teen of the early ‘60s who dances her way into regular appearances on the popular local teenage dance show. Tracy’s overnight celebrity inspires a newfound confidence that leads her to speak up in favor of the Civil Rights movement, which does not sit well with a certain segment of society. Divine obviously deserves special mention for playing the dual role of Tracy’s mother Edna Turnblad as well as that of a racist TV station director. Unfortunately, he passed away just two weeks after Hairspray’s premiere, never to capitalize on the positive critical reception. Bolstered by a fabulous ‘60s pop and R&B soundtrack, Hairspray is John Waters’ finest hour—it is a subversive family-friendly film providing clues to a way out, if you will. Those clues are of utmost importance.
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