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<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT size=3><FONT
size=5>Ok, folks:</FONT> Here comes the one you have waited all Summer
for!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT size=3>The laffs are
big, the music is great, the reviews are excellent!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT size=3>AND...It's
rated "PG", so no worries about who can come or not!!!</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT size=3>It's <FONT
size=6><U>HAIRSPRAY</U>!!! </FONT>
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<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT
size=3></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT size=3>...and it's
at <U>THE AVON</U> starting FRIDAY!!!!!!<BR></FONT><EM>(You know there is
nowhere else you'd rather see it, right??)</EM></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN
class=ContentDate><EM></EM></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT size=3>We'll have it
in the big theater, with the area's BIGGEST screen, too!<BR><BR>Just read
today's review from my favorite local film critic from
Champaign-Urbana...<BR>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=ContentStoryHeader><FONT size=4><SPAN class=ContentDate><FONT
size=1>JULY 19, 2007</FONT></SPAN> <BR><SPAN class=ContentHeader>Ready for a big
bouncy ’do?</SPAN><BR><SPAN class=ContentSubHeadline>The secret to box office
success: Putting Travolta in a dress</SPAN><BR></FONT><SPAN
class=ContentByLine>BY <A title="Click here for Chuck Koplinski archives"
href="http://www.illinoistimes.com/gyrobase/Archive?author=oid%3A1892">CHUCK
KOPLINSKI</A></SPAN>
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<DIV class=para70><SPAN class=text299>The heck with blowin’ stuff up real good,
double-crossin’ pirates, and conniving con artists — the secret to success, as
far as summer movies in 2007 are concerned, is putting John Travolta in a dress!
Although one might think this is just a cheap gimmick to get audiences to see
Adam Shankman’s film adaptation of the Broadway musical </SPAN><SPAN
class=text298>Hairspray</SPAN><SPAN class=text299>, this casting choice fits
quite nicely into the film’s overall sense of goofy fun and infectious
exuberance, making it one of the most entertaining movies of the year. The dance
numbers are energetic and the music catchy, if not memorable, but this film also
has an agenda, paying homage to those who took the civil-rights movement to the
streets in the early ’60s and reminding us, without beating us over the head,
that prejudice of all sorts still needs to be combated. <BR></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=para150><SPAN class=text299>Tracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) may be
overweight, but that certainly hasn’t affected her self-esteem. Perky and full
of life, her latest obsession involves becoming a featured dancer on the local
music program </SPAN><SPAN class=text298>The Corny Collins Show</SPAN><SPAN
class=text299>. Tracy must overcome a great deal of hostility, because of her
weight and lack of social standing, before she can achieve her goal. Her nemesis
is Velma Von Tussle (a wonderfully bitchy Michelle Pfeiffer), the manager of the
station where Collins’ show is produced. Velma goes out of her way to put her
“perfect” daughter, Amber (Brittany Snow), in the spotlight at every turn.
However, with support from her best friend, Penny (Amanda Bynes), who enters
into an interracial romance with dancer Seaweed (Elijah Kelley), and her
optimistic dad, Wilbur (Christopher Walken), Tracy not only winds up seeing her
dream come true but actually finds love along the way. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=para150><SPAN class=text299>Plotwise, there’s very little different
between Shankman’s version and the original film, by director John Waters, which
flirted with being a musical itself, what with its many song-and-dance numbers.
However, the tunes here do add an undeniable sense of energy to the proceedings,
as does the cast. There’s a sense here that the actors had a great deal of fun
making this movie, and their enthusiasm for the material adds to the film’s
overall sense of joy. The casting of Travolta is a bit of a gimmick, but he’s up
to the task of poking fun at his image while delivering an effective comedic
performance. He and Walken, who gives one of his patented quirky turns, have an
odd chemistry that makes one wish they had more scenes together. Pfeiffer
relishes her role as this bigoted harridan, knowing that to overplay the part is
to render it cartoonish yet oddly accurate. Queen Latifah dominates the films
whenever she appears as Seaweed’s mother and goes toe to toe with Pfeiffer, and
Bynes, James Marsden (as Corky Collins) and Zac Efron (as star dancer Link
Larkin) battle to see who can deliver the most charming breakout performance.
Despite their best efforts, Blonsky takes that honor in the first of what I hope
will be many movies. </SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=para150><SPAN class=text298>Hairspray</SPAN><SPAN class=text299> is
hardly original, and that’s just fine. Its familiarity is a bit of a comfort;
unlike the many sequels that have cluttered this summer’s roster, the music and
performances in this film provide a vibrant new take on the material instead of
the by-the-numbers retread that so many other movies have delivered in recent
months. Shankman and his crew provide the sort of fun picture perfectly suited
for the summer season. Lively, bright, and entertaining, </SPAN><SPAN
class=text298>Hairspray</SPAN><SPAN class=text299> proves far better than you
might expect, a claim none of the recent big budget blockbusters can make.
</SPAN></DIV>
<DIV class=StoryTextBox><FONT
face=Arial>++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</FONT><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=StoryTextBox><FONT size=3>Trust me, folks, this one has "Avon"
written all over it!!<BR><BR>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=2><FONT size=4><U>HAIRSPRAY</U></FONT>
(PG)<BR><FONT size=1>(Showtimes in brackets mean $5.50 "Bargain
Matinees")</FONT></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=4>FRI: (4:00) - 7:00</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=4>SAT & SUN: (1:00) - (4:00) -
7:00</FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><STRONG><FONT face=Tahoma size=4>MON thru THURS: 7:15<BR><BR><EM><FONT
face="Bradley Hand ITC" size=5>Come Support This One,
Folks!</FONT></EM></FONT></STRONG></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bradley Hand ITC" size=5><U><EM>It's The
"One"!!</EM></U></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=4>YOU CAN'T STOP THE BEAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Tahoma size=4></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bradley Hand ITC" size=5><EM>I'll Be Looking for
YOU....</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face="Bradley Hand ITC" size=6><EM>-Skip</EM></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><EM><FONT face="Bradley Hand ITC" size=5>P.S. Huston's Avon Theater 3 uses
NO PEANUTS in the preparation of our fabulous popcorns! (Unlike some "other
guys"....)</FONT></EM></DIV></FONT></DIV><BR
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