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Hairspray Live! Reviews

May 11, 2025

All the cast did an amazing job personally I would watch it all the time if I had the time. would definitely recommend for Hairspray fans.

Dec 29, 2024

LOL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jul 23, 2022

Engaging, even if does not reach the same heights as the 2007 film (the energy of everyone is there, but not quite as magical), this story is still very relevant for nowadays. The cast is incredible, especially the deliciously funny and evil (and always perfect for every single role) Kristin Chenoweth and the ever fantastic Jennifer Hudson (with her showstopping voice in another definitive verson of a musical song), I just wanted to some stories to be more developped (looking at you, Ariana Grande). Maddie Baillio is good, but not as captivating as Nikki Blonsky.

Aug 7, 2021

AMAZING BEST FILM EVER WISH THIS WAS ON ALL STREAMING SERVICES!

Apr 11, 2021

Funny, original, & full of music!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jan 9, 2021

I love it!! super excited, with a great soundtrack!

Jul 8, 2020

The musical was ingeniously directed by Tony award-winning Broadway director, Kenny Leon, which easily becomes Leon's best work to date. This refresh based on John Waters' 1988 Hairspray film and Mark O'Donnell's and Thomas Meehan's original Hairspray Musical hits the nail on the head when it comes to the performances, choreography, costume and set design. I remember when I was a kid my mother bought me the 2007 Hairspray movie musical on DVD, and I would sing-along and dance to every single song like nobody was watching and that is exactly how I felt while watching this refreshed, live rendition of the iconic musical. There is simply no bad song in this musical. "You Can't Stop the Beat" continues to hold up its name for being one of the best finale songs in a musical. All the performances made you feel like singing and running in the rain with your friends. Each musical number is perfectly choreographed and composed with lyrics that can sometimes be campy and offensive, but it somehow manages to add more character to the song. They've managed to perfectly weave humour and outright sassy lyrics into 60s bluesy styled songs which adds to the uniqueness of it all and further shows that they don't take themselves too seriously. The lyrics in one of the songs, "Without Love" reads, "Life is like my mother, on a diet" and "Tracy I'm in love with you no matter what you weigh", just cracks me up every time. It shows how bold the writers and composers are to do something other writers and composers wouldn't dare to do. It's axiomatic these fresh new actors would be put on a very high pedestal as the bar that has been set by the former actors who embodied these characters is undeniably very high. The young actors, aside from Dove Cameron and Maddie Baillio, unfortunately, fall flat on their faces. Although Garret Clayton possesses the sex appeal and porcelain doll complexion which heavily suites the character of Link Larkin, it does not translate into his dance and singing and overall demeanour of the character. Clayton's overall performance was abysmal compared to Zac Efron's iconic portrayal of Link in the 2007 Hairspray movie musical. The charm and poise that Efron exudes as Link, sadly did not come across with Clayton. Ariana Grande on the other hand visibly tries to do the material justice. I think it's safe to say that she should stick to what she is best at, R&B pop songs. On the other end of the spectrum, Jennifer Hudson and Kristin Chenoweth were both outstanding in their supporting roles. Hudson easily carries the musical on her back with her powerful "Aguilerian" voice and tenacious yet elegant acting performance which easily becomes one of her best acting performances to date. I can't contain how happy I am seeing Kristin Chenoweth finally playing the role she was born to play. Chenoweth as Velma Von Tussle steals all her scenes with her villainous wit and skilled theatrical voice. The production design on the other hand was a whole character in and of itself. All the sets were masterfully tailored to look like an authentic movie scene from the 60s. The vibrant colours, abstract shapes, neon lights, and vintage façade coupled with fantabulous costume design, hair and makeup accentuate the pop culture era of the 60s and kept me immersed in the whole illustrious experience. Despite some mediocre acting and lacklustre performances, Hairspray is still one of the most indisputably good musicals out there. This musical succeeds in depicting the power of popular art to create change. It's full of politics, opportunistic media, institutional racism, and class privilege all fighting a battle against people who can't help but crave righteousness. To quote the musical, it's "Afro-tastic".

Jan 11, 2020

Not the best interpretation of it but still enjoyed

Aug 13, 2017

Although it brought a new and lighter feel to the story, the lead just wasn't the Tracy expected. Matched with the multiple technical errors and so-so cast, Hairspray Live just doesn't live up to its big screen counterpart.

Jan 27, 2017

Not a big fan of the casting for this one. One might as well watch the actual movie version.

Jan 24, 2017

loved it. bought it.

Dec 28, 2016

A very great musical for tv. Dove Cameron fits the role of Amber Von Tussle perfectly

Dec 24, 2016

Perfect casting. Link was awffulll.

Dec 17, 2016

Maddie, Ariana, Harvey, JHUD! KRISTEN! DOVE! MARTIN! Even ROSIE! Derek was great. Great production overall

Dec 14, 2016

The movie was good like any other rendition of Hairspray. The sound quality was not the best, but a live show can have some issues. At times, the rhythm seemed to be off as well. Maybe the monitors could not be heard? A sound check should have fixed this issue.

Dec 13, 2016

Excellent and refreshing to see good tv for once. Thank you for a wonderful performance and a great cast

Dec 13, 2016

I loved the musical I gave a good message (every is different)

Dec 11, 2016

Cast did an amazing job! Was fast paced and awesome!

Dec 7, 2016

Good intentioned, but rough "live" attempt at restaging a show that's already been staged in multiple versions (film, stage and then film again). The cast gave high energy performances that were uneven at best and there were several technical issues (including befuddled lighting cues and cameras wandering into view). The cast was often hard to understand during the musical numbers, but the dancing was pretty good. For some reason they kept cutting away to various US cities that were hosting live parties. Overall the whole thing had an amateur feel to it that really seemed to require more rehersal. It was like watching a dress rehersal for a slick high school production. Not one of the better "live" adaptations that have been popping up all over network 온라인카지노추천 in the last year or so.

Dec 7, 2016

Highs and Lows. Mostly Highs.

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