In 1962, Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), a fat and short teenager of Baltimore, was fascinated by the Corny Collins Show which featured dances performed by good-looking teenagers. She auditioned for the show and somehow she got a part in it. Velma (Michelle Pfeiffer), the director of the show, wanted to fire her because she did not "fit" in with the other talents. At the same time, she wanted to cancel the Negro Night of the show when dances were performed by Afro-Americans only...

The film is a musical comedy. The songs are easy and fun to listen to. Blonsky's performance is exceptional despite Hairspray being her first film. I am a bit worried about Blonsky's future in the entertainment circle, though, because not many protagonist roles would be best to be performed by somebody of her physique.

John Travolta's role is interesting. This time he took the role of a big fat woman who is the mother of Tracy Turnblad. Oppositing Christopher Walken for the role of his/her husband, the couple was quite, well, a couple.

The theme of the film is anti-discrimination. Race and beauty were the focuses particularly. There is one line which I was quite impressed. It goes something like: Is it safe for the White to go to a Black neighborhood and is it safe for the Black to go to a White neighborhood? Discrimination will always be there. Let's just hope that it will do less and less harm in the future.