Hairspray

1988 PG 1h 32m DVD

Hairspray

1988 PG 1h 32m DVD
  • Overview
  • Details
Ample teen Tracy Turnblad (Ricki Lake) wants nothing more than to be on the hip local TV dance program, "The Corny Collins Show" -- and when her dream comes true, her lively moves and bubbly personality meet with unexpected popularity. But after witnessing firsthand the terrible state of race relations in 1960s Baltimore, Turnblad becomes an outspoken advocate for desegregation. John Waters's comedy inspired the Broadway musical of the same name.
Cast
Ricki Lake, Divine, Sonny Bono, Deborah Harry, Ruth Brown, Colleen Fitzpatrick, Michael St. Gerard, Leslie Ann Powers, Clayton Prince, Jerry Stiller, Mink Stole, Ric Ocasek, Shawn Thompson
Director
John Waters
Format
DVD
Screen
Widescreen Anamorphic 1.85:1
Subtitles
English
CC
Yes
Audio
English: Dolby Digital 5.1, English: Dolby Digital 2.0 Surround
Rating
PG - Some material may not be suitable for children. Parents urged to give parental guidance. May contain some material parents might not like for their young children.
age 14+
Common Sense rating OK for kids 14+
age 14+

Common Sense Note

Parents need to know that Tracy, the main character, lies to her parents and sneaks off to make out with her boyfriend. She breaks the law by participating in a sit-in for civil rights, and ends up in reform school. A peer spreads lies and rumors about Tracy, including that she's a "whore," was naked in a car, and that she has cockroaches in her hair. Set in the early 1960s, the movie also depicts acts of racism and homophobia. People are called "queer" and "faggots," and a white woman calls Motormouth Maybelle a "native woman," even though she's from Baltimore, too. There is some fighting; Tracy's boyfriend has his legs broken, and another character gets a concussion.

Sexual Content

Some heavy petting, and Penny tells Seaweed to "go to second." A beatnick encourages the gang to "take off our clothes and smoke reefer."

Violence

A fistfight leaves Tracy's boyfriend in a wheelchair, but there's nothing graphic and no blood.

Language

Lots of racial and homophobic epithets and general cursing.

Social Behavior

Tracy is a great female role model, especially for larger teens (though she does lie to her mother on occasion); despite a constant barrage of racism and homophobia from other characters, the teens fight for what's right -- desegregation.

Consumerism

Not applicable

Drugs / Tobacco / Alcohol

The kids are offered drinks, but they don't take them. Corny Collins drinks from a bottle of liquor.

  • Age appropriate
  • Not an issue
  • Depends on your child and your family
  • Parents strongly cautioned
  • Not appropriate for kids of the age

This information for parents is provided by Common Sense Media, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving kids' media lives.

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