hairspray

to play Edna Turnblad, John Travolta adopted Dr. Evil's accent. odd choice for an odd movie. this is supposed to be about integration. it's actually about how blacks are much better singers and dancers than whites, and how all the civil rights movement needed was a little fat white girl to lead it. never mind that this girl, who wins her way onto a dance show despite her chubbiness, can't actually dance. I have a soft spot for Amanda Bynes and it's always fun to see Queen Latifah, la belle chanteuse, but I was not charmed by this movie after the opening number. the scenes between Christopher Walken and John Travolta are particularly wince-inducing.