Hairspray is a delightful musical comedy directed and choreographed by Adam Shankman. Set in Baltimore in 1962, the film was adapted from the award-winning Broadway musical and the script for the 1988 John Waters film.

Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky), the movie's leading character, races home with her friend Penny Pingleton (Amanda Bynes) after school so they won’t miss the latest episode of “The Corny Collins Show,” which is their all-time favorite television program. The show features talented local teenagers dancing to the latest hits. While bopping along to the show, Tracy and Penny hear Corny Collins (James Marsden) announce open call auditions to find a suitable replacement for one of the show’s female dancers who is taking an extended leave of absence.

Tracy has always dreamed about being a dancer on the show. Ecstatic about the auditions, she tells her mother Edna (John Travolta) about her plans to try out. Edna tells Tracy she can’t audition because she feels the show’s producers will ignore her daughter’s dance skills and ridicule Tracy because she’s overweight.

Wilbur (Christopher Walken), Tracy’s father, disagrees with Edna and tells Tracy  she should go after her dreams and try to make them a reality. After all, he tells her “you have to think big to be big.” Unfortunately, Velma Von Tussle (Michelle Pfeiffer), the station manager for WYZT, does ignore Tracy’s abilities and rejects her based on her plus size.

Tracy forms an unlikely friendship with Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), a fellow student at school, while both are in detention. Kelley is a dancer on “The Corny Collins Show Negro Day” segments which air periodically and are emceed by former singer Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah). Seaweed, who has created his own free-style dance steps which impress Tracy, helps his new friend master them so she can get a second shot at the show when Corny Collins makes a scheduled appearance at their next school dance.

Impressed by Tracy, Collins gives her a spot on his show. Tracy is an instant hit, which doesn’t sit well with Velma’s daughter Amber (Brittany Snow) who considers herself the show’s star. An intense rivalry breaks out between Amber and Tracy when Snow’s boyfriend Link (Zac Efron) begins falling for Tracy as the girls square off on-air for the Miss Teen Hairspray title.

I had the pleasure of watching newcomer Nikki Blonsky interact with director Adam Shankman on the set of the film last winter. I must agree with Shankman’s statement that Hairspray would not have worked without the commanding vocals, dancing, and acting by Blonsky.

John Travolta provides a strong performance as Tracy’s mother Edna, who has spent several decades at home fearing society will ridicule her over her size if she ventures outside. Edna inadvertently projects all her fears onto Tracy who tries to teach her that the times and attitudes are shifting. Walken, Pfeiffer, Latifah and Bynes all provide solid supporting turns. 

Leslie Dixon’s screenplay is funny from start to finish, and Adam Shankman skillfully choreographs and executes this entertaining film that held me riveted by its fine performances, spirited dance sequences, and infectious musical numbers.

(Released by New Line Cinema and rated “PG” for language, some suggestive content and momentary teen smoking.)