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That boy ain't right
Published: 7/23/2007 9:32 PM
Last Modified: 7/23/2007 9:32 PM

I saw “Hairspray” the other night and loved the energy, the spirit and tone of the film. This was a fun film to see with a packed house.

There were so many great performances, like those of Nikki Blonsky as Tracy, Elijah Kelley as Seaweed and a dead solid perfect one by Oklahoman James Marsden. No playing favorites here: He looked like a million bucks, displayed sheer confidence as the music show host, proved to be an impressive hoofer and sounded great singing.

But John Travolta? Awful stunt casting, but not all his fault.

The director and the makeup people who transformed him into a non-expressive, rubber-faced doll from another planet – I heard his look described perfectly as animatronic – must share some blame on this disaster.

I’ve always appreciated Travolta, and I love that he’s in this film musical that reminds me of “Grease,” but to be totally distracted from the film’s action every time that latex mug appears on-screen?

That can’t be the effect they were going for. Original musical portrayer Harvey Fierstein’s gravel voice wouldn’t have been this distracting, and it would have been much more amusing.

That aside, and a disappointment that Christopher Walken’s dance skills weren’t more exposed, “Hairspray” is one of this year’s best films, in spite of that enormous, if you will, flaw.

That boy just doesn’t look comfortable as a girl.

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I See Movies for Free

“I was born a poor, black child” … not me, actually, but Steve Martin’s character in the “The Jerk.” That absurd opening line is just one of the absurd number of film facts, quotes and minutiae contained in movie critic Michael Smith’s brain, at his disposal to toss out on a moment’s notice. It’s a key requirement as Tulsa World film critic to know these things. Michael learned a few other life facts along the way (seven years as a Crystal’s Pizza & Spaghetti manager) before attempting journalism and joining the Tulsa World in 1996, where he’s covered everything from a school shooting in Fort Gibson to a tornado in Stroud to witnessing an execution. A little community theater coverage was sprinkled in there, too. Movies engender many of his happiest memories, from standing in line for “Star Wars” and “Grease” at the Southroads Cinema to the James Bond and Pink Panther movies that always premiered at the enormous Continental Theater.

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Past Articles By Michael Smith

2/16/2013		Broken Arrow movie theater moves to discount showings
2/15/2013		Review: 'Amour'
2/15/2013		Review: 'A Good Day to Die Hard'
2/15/2013		Review: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/14/2013		Review: 'Quartet'
2/14/2013		Shirley MacLaine to speak at Osage Casino
2/14/2013		Weekly rewind: February 14
2/14/2013		REVIEW: 'Beautiful Creatures'
2/12/2013		Belgian best picture hopeful 'Amour' opens in Tulsa on Friday
2/10/2013		'Die Hard' marathon at AMC Southroads on Wednesday ends with new film
2/9/2013		Review: 'Identity Thief' a stupid movie from stupid idea
2/8/2013		Oscar audit: Critics choices for best picture hold up over time

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