Hairspray (1988)

Given his fondness for unrestrained envelope pushing, including one of the most graphic films ever to receive wide release (1973's Pink Flamingos), Hairspray seems like a real departure for John Waters, in content if not sensibility. Even with its PG rating and overarching cheeriness, it's still not for everyone -- and Waters wouldn't have it any other way. Future talk show mainstay Ricki Lake has Waters to thank for her breakthrough into popular awareness, and has rewarded him with several collaborations even after achieving large-scale success. In her first prominent role, she embodies the grinning damn-it-all mentality of her director, achieving fantasy-level acceptance despite her ample proportions. In empowering several disenfranchised groups, including fat girls (Lake), drag queens (Divine, in his last film appearance), and African-Americans (segregated on a popular music show in the film), Waters gleefully snubs his nose at the natural order of things, preferring to imagine a world where their ascension would be unfettered by prejudice. The cast seems to be having a terrific time, even if the material is sometimes too giddy for its own good. Fans of glorious kitsch -- the only audience Waters is concerned with impressing -- will no doubt consider Hairspray a fond favorite. Others may find it more of a whimsical curiosity than an effective social satire, but one gets the impression that the iconoclast style-over-substance director might agree with them, too. ~ Derek Armstrong, All Movie Guide