Hairspray

Sublimely naïve yet boisterously entertaining, Hairspray may be the best movie musical since Grease. Its celebration of human tolerance, cross-cultural communication, desegregation, and interracial romance may be simplistic, but it is a simplicity enhanced by a light-hearted irreverence and a collection of infectiously toe-tapping show tunes by Marc Sherman (South Park: Bigger, Longer and Uncut). Adam Shankman stages everything with eccentric, enthusiastic flair (he directs and choreographs). No slice and dice MTV-style editing here, but a loving tribute to what makes the American musical great: strong material, excellent acting and singing, soaring highs and a climatic set-piece that made me want to dance in the aisle (don’t worry Arnab, I didn’t). Sure it lacks John Waters’ squalidly romantic nostalgia for the Baltimore of his childhood, but that doesn’t mean Hairspray–a campy, magical confection for all tastes–isn’t a supremely confident work of pop culture.