Hairspray
User Score
7.7 out of 10

Generally favorable reviews- based on 179 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 141 out of 179
  2. Mixed: 11 out of 179
  3. Negative: 27 out of 179

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  1. JasonK
    Jul 20, 2007
    4
    You know, I saw it at a Sneak Preview, and had a really lingering problem with the movie, and to see it echoed in a few reviews makes me realize that I'm probably right. The truth is, whatever is happening in front of the camera in this film is great - the acting, the dancing, the music, the story, everything. But Shankman just didn't know where to put the camera. He had absolutely no clue how to shoot the scenes. How many times did the shot make no sense, have no momentum, no purpose. It was just so poorly directed on a camera level. Made me upset, because if someone else had just directed the camerawork, this thing could have flown so high, no one would have brought it down.… Expand
  2. BillC.
    Jul 23, 2007
    4
    After all the hype and good reviews I was disappointed. The original was funnier and packed more of an edge to it's content. The music was fair and it had a few laughs. I have to admit, most in the theater applauded at the end and seemed to find it more enjoyable then did I.
  3. Edgar
    Jul 26, 2007
    4
    Did anyone else find this film a little racist? The squares are demonized in such a way as to suggest a more or less bankrupt culture, and then it's Funk to the rescue. There seems to be no end, in this film, to the pontificating, bible thumping verdict that all white people need to do is to adopt African American culture wholesale. The treatment of the white people in this film is no more sophisticated than the way white people treated African Americans in, let's say, the 50s. The pendulum has now swung quite a ways since then, yes? Should we not be concerned about the obvious racism in this so-called fluff film? Is it not disturbing that no one seems to care that we so easily swallow this mess of negative stereotypes? I'm disturbed when, in older films, I see African Americans being marginalized. I'm just as disturbed by this very commercial entertainment and by the lack of responsibility required from the filmmakers to treat each character as a human being. There's much to love in most cultures today. I just don't understand why we feel the need to sanctify one over the other. It's worrisome, to me.… Expand
  4. MichaelD
    Nov 23, 2011
    4
    One thing for sure, this movie is definitely not my type. But in some way, it was entertaining at some parts which is why it only JUST gets a 4.
  5. keith
    Jul 20, 2007
    3
    John Travolta and Christopher Walkin were totallly mis-cast.
  6. LennyC.
    Jan 23, 2008
    3
    If you have never seen a train wreck, watch this movie, it is an hour and a half boring music video with no let up, i felt like sceeming,, "STOP THE MUSIC"
  7. MattL.
    Jan 4, 2008
    3
    Good performances from Nikki Blonsky and James Marsden, otherwise this is a cringeworthy excuse for entertainment. The songs and general over-exaggerated performances made me wanna throw up, and the plot was poor and implausible.
  8. GrantW.
    Nov 3, 2007
    3
    Terrible acting, terrible music, Queen Latifah was terrible Michelle Pfeiffer was worse, and Christopher Walken needs to learn to decline roles.
  9. JK.
    Nov 21, 2007
    3
    Boring, Cheesy, Goofy, Pretentious...... Like a loud and stupid version of American History X for kids.
  10. MokoReviews
    Apr 19, 2013
    3
    It fails on almost every level to be the amazing-ness of the 1988 original. Also, John Travolta acting as some bubblegum version of Divine is tacky and downright cinema blasphemy.
  11. FXT
    Sep 23, 2007
    2
    Boring even if the story is good.
  12. HarrisK.
    Aug 1, 2008
    2
    Puh-lease. I can't believe a movie with a few catchy songs can automatically get starred reviews! This movies story is extremely cliche and very cheesy. Even all the songs sound the same.
  13. olegM.
    Jul 23, 2007
    2
    Look it: I'm not a film critic but I've watched a lot of movies in my life, and lemme tell you: this movie is not worth seeing. Baloney is the word people invented for movies like this. Best, Ollie.
  14. EoinD.
    Aug 1, 2007
    1
    If you are a guy you will hate it. I stood outside the movie theatre waiting for my female companion and the contrast between the experience of man and woman was striking. The females seemed to love it due to its grease-esque overtones, ie constant breaking into song for something as trivial as opening a carton of milk or doing the ironing. It is not my kind of film, but the females out there will enjoy it. MEN MAY NOT........HENCE My 1/10 rating.… Expand
  15. [Anonymous]
    Jan 17, 2008
    1
    A terrible, overlong, bland, stupid, unoriginal, overblown, hammed-up waste of space, for reasons that are too glaring and all-consuming to even begin discussing here.
  16. Mike
    Feb 5, 2008
    1
    Very colorful, likable for the first 15 mins, and then it just became annoying! Travolts sucks a woman, he didn't look like one, didn't move like one, or speak like one. Also this is a "MUSICAL" so why are actors singing when they don't have the talent too sing!
  17. JimY.
    Aug 16, 2007
    1
    This movie will not appeal to any man who does not have a strong desire to live in San Francisco. or key west. It is about the most mind numbing thing I have watched this side of rush Limbaugh. There will always be people who like any crap served to them because they think they are sophisticated. but this move it not. I think Travolta days are better spent flying instead of acting if this is the best he can do. I strongly sug. you do not spend your money on this film, I down loaded it from the net and even though I did not pay for it, I felt cheated out of my time and want it back.… Expand
  18. JimS
    Jul 20, 2007
    0
    The original is better.
  19. TylerG.
    Aug 8, 2007
    0
    My girlfriend wanted me to go see it, so i did for one reason, because John Travolta is in my favorite movie of all time (Pulp Fiction), but seeing him play an overweight woman made me leave the theater and my girlfriend before it was over, that really genuinely sucked.
  20. AdamL
    Jul 27, 2007
    0
    This movie has to be the most stupid and pointless movie ever made. Teletubies is better than this. I walked out of the theater in the middle of the movie and demanded my money back. I recommend that no one should see this movie.

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
81 out of 100

Universal acclaim - based on 37 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 36 out of 37
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 37
  3. Negative: 0 out of 37
  1. Boston Globe
    Reviewed by: Ty Burr
    88
    If you look fast, you'll see Waters himself in a cameo (as a flasher; what else?), proof the new film is in touch with its dyed roots.
    Read full review
  2. Chicago Reader
    Reviewed by: Albert Williams
    100
    With its wisecracking screenplay, period-perfect pop score, and Shankman's splashy choreography, this may be the funniest, dancingest screen musical since "Singin' in the Rain."
    Read full review
  3. Miami Herald
    Reviewed by: Rene Rodriguez
    75
    Delivers an even bigger sugar rush than the hit Broadway musical.
    Read full review
See all critic reviews »