pensnest | (no subject)

I've been meaning to post this for a few days, but now I have a story deadline, so it is obviously a good time.

I watched 'Hairspray' the movie (alas) on the plane home from New York, and enjoyed it a lot. The tiny, round heroine is completely adorable, and lots of the dance-y bits made me want to get up and be choreographed. It'd be charming to think that overcoming discrimination was Just That Easy back in 1962, too.

But I have a gripe. I cannot think of a good reason why Tracy's mother has to be played by a man (in the movie, John Travolta). Yes, apparently it's 'tradition' for the various incarnations of this production. But still—why?

'Cause I think it stinks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Yeah, it has nothing to do with being a fat, middle-aged woman, it has to do with John Waters and Divine. I don't imagine what you felt when you watched had anything to do with it.

Whatever one may think of John Travolta in the role.

So was it just me who missed the point, or was it the film makers?

Probably both. :)

John Travolta is a big name, which to film makers is much more important than the integrity or purpose of the original. And yeah, you may be seeing something that's not meant to be there. But that's not to say Hollywood treats fat, middle-aged women kindly as a matter of course.