07.24.08
You Can’t Stop the Beat, “Hairspray 2″
Based on a beloved musical, which was based on a movie, “Hairspray” was a delightful romp which danced along the lines of an upbeat story brought to life by an extraordinary ensemble cast, to an impressive critical and box-office success. As the story goes, where there is success, there is a sequel. New Line Cinema have secured a deal with John Waters, who is to write a treatment “Hairspray 2.” With most of the background architects attached so far, including director/choreographer Adam Shankman and the songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, none of the original cast has been signed on thus far. Hopes are high that the cast will reunite, with the sequel picking up where the original left of, Baltimore in 1962, scheduled for release around July 2010. [Variety]
Adam Shankman told Daily Variety, “I never thought of musicals as franchises, but it certainly worked with ‘High School Musical,’ and the idea of working with that cast again, and creating new material and music, is a dream come true. John (Waters) has such an original and extraordinary voice; we all can’t wait to see what he has come up with.” Now I liked “Hairspray” as much as the next person, I have even revisited the film on DVD, but apprehensive and confuzzled I am indeed. Hopeful, but I do not think a sequel is necessary at all. I guess you really cannot stop the beat at all.
Sam Juliano said,
July 24, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Nick, I quite agree with you–a sequel is not needed at all, but I am also coming from a different direction, as I was in the minority in finding the original much less infectious than most people, including some friends who chided me after I had written a pan. But I generally like musicals, and had no serious issues apart from Pierce Brosnan’s singing in MAMMA MIA!, which seems to be somewhat of a snob-magnet.
Still, I am sure we are on the same page with the original John Waters’ HAIRSPRAY with Ricki Lake and Divine (whose shoes were not remotely filled by the likes of John Travolta) LOL!!!
Nick Plowman said,
July 24, 2008 at 4:52 pm
I LOVE musicals. Really do, I like the dark and serious ones (”Sweeney Todd”), the satirically devilish ones (”Chicago”), the warm and fuzzy ones (”Hairspray”), the real and honest ones (”Once”), the artistically challenging but almost paper thin ones (”Across the Universe”), the misguided but saved by a talented cast (”Dreamgirls”), and the ones I have not seen (”Romance and Cigarettes”). And those are just the more recent ones.
I’ll make a deal with the powers behind this “Hairspray” sequel: If they give Amanda Bynes more lines and more screen time, I’ll be totally satisfied.
I only saw the original “Hairspray” after seeing the Travolta one, and I liked them both for different reasons.
Sam Juliano said,
July 24, 2008 at 5:07 pm
Yeah,I think you make sense there. What one expects to happen does not always happen. I expected MAMMA MIA! to fall flat, but it turned out to be an enagaging guilty pleasure (3/5)…….I agree with you on CHICAGO, SWEENEY TODD, DREAMGIRLS and of course ONCE, which was one of last year’s very best films. I would say THE PRODUCERS was lame; RENT was fair enough and ACROSS THE UNIVERSE was pretty much a dazzling show. The SCORE in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA is still glorious in its filmic transcription, even if there were admittedly problems there.
Justin said,
July 24, 2008 at 8:08 pm
Not a good idea at all. Nope. Hell no. Bad.
Nick Plowman said,
July 24, 2008 at 8:11 pm
Sam – “Producers” sucked so bad, I liked many of the songs in “Rent” so I didn’t mind that one [I have since forgotten about it though], and Loved “Across the Universe.” “The Phantom of the Opera”….I fell asleep.
Just – Amanda Bynes….bigger role….more funny….methinks.