Freidman on Travolta, "Hairspray"

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"You really have to see John Travolta to believe him, especially toward the end of Hairspray when he finally lets loose -- dressed in a fat suit as a woman in a red tutu and high heels -- and dances up a storm in the film's finale," writes Fox 411's Roger Friedman.

"I don't know if it's an Oscar performance, but I do know that when Hairspray is shown in big theaters (I saw it in a screening room, still a little unfinished), audiences are going to go wild with cheers and whistles. Travolta even signals the audience with his now-trademark 'cat eye' from Pulp Fiction as he launches like a spinning top onto the stage of the fictional Corny Collins Show. You can only love it. Somehow he brings that old Travolta warmth and charisma to a crazy costume."

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on June 3, 2007 at 3:25 AM

comment #1

Jayne Gacey says ...

I don't even want to know how Wells is going to react if they start to beat the Oscar drum for Travolta. He'll probably have to take him down, just like he did with Murphy and Munich. Only fair.

Posted by Jayne Gacey at June 3, 2007 4:42 AM

comment #2

D.Z. says ...

"I don't know if it's an Oscar performance, but I do know that when Hairspray is shown in big theaters (I saw it in a screening room, still a little unfinished), audiences are going to go wild with cheers and whistles."

This assumes there'll be enough audiences for it to make noises that loud.

"Travolta even signals the audience with his now-trademark 'cat eye' from Pulp Fiction"

Yes, people never danced like that before Pulp Fiction, because Tarantino invented art and commerce, and nothing was original before him.

Posted by D.Z. at June 3, 2007 4:46 AM

comment #3

Jayne Gacey says ...

Yes D.Z., there were clearly no references to earlier media in a scene set in a restaurant where the waiter was dressed like Buddy Holly and the MC dressed and talked like Ed Sullivan. Enough!

Posted by Jayne Gacey at June 3, 2007 6:06 AM

comment #4

Jayne Gacey says ...

Yes D.Z., there were clearly no references to earlier media in a scene set in a restaurant where the waiter was dressed like Buddy Holly and the MC dressed and talked like Ed Sullivan. Enough!

Posted by Jayne Gacey at June 3, 2007 6:06 AM

comment #5

Jayne Gacey says ...

Enough!

Posted by Jayne Gacey at June 3, 2007 6:07 AM

comment #6

romeoisbleeding says ...

What if you just don't like Travolta at all? can I say he just creeps me out. I don't care if he is great in this movie or not... the dude just weirds me out. I would not see this movie unless you pay me a lot of money.

Posted by romeoisbleeding at June 3, 2007 6:10 AM

comment #7

erniesouchak says ...

Travolta ain't Divine, not by the longest shot.

Posted by erniesouchak at June 3, 2007 6:23 AM

comment #8

p.Vice says ...

I believe that the cheers will be because the movie is over, the whistles because Travolta has just outed himself like nobody's done before. Where's Todd Browning when you really need him?

Posted by p.Vice at June 3, 2007 9:20 AM

comment #9

PanTheFaun says ...

Okay okay. Let's be honest here. If this movie is at the least 'fun,' which is all it's trying to be, the audience WILL eat it up as Friedman is saying they will.

Posted by PanTheFaun at June 3, 2007 9:54 AM

comment #10

christian says ...

"Travolta even signals the audience with his now-trademark 'cat eye' from Pulp Fiction"

because that similiar PF dance refence in BE COOL wowed 'em in poughkeepsie. how about if he just wore a barbirino jacket?

Posted by christian at June 3, 2007 9:58 AM

comment #11

christian says ...

i mean, "PF dance reference..."

Posted by christian at June 3, 2007 9:59 AM

comment #12

JChasse says ...

I always thought Travolta lifted that dance move from Adam West in "Batman", which is what made it, for me, so cool in "Pulp Fiction".

Posted by JChasse at June 3, 2007 10:14 AM

comment #13

Larry says ...

Yes, he was dancing the famed "Batusi." It's surprising Friedman thinks Travolta trademarked it.

Posted by Larry at June 3, 2007 11:25 AM

comment #14

Circumvrent says ...

Perhaps Friedman meant to type "Bat eye."

Posted by Circumvrent at June 3, 2007 12:01 PM

comment #15

christian says ...

tarantino obviously coached travolta on that move. but why keep winking at your past? it just takes you out of the performance.

Posted by christian at June 3, 2007 12:19 PM

comment #16

Mike Schaefer says ...

"Travolta ain't Divine, not by the longest shot"

No, but Travolta's had sex with a lot more men than Divine ever did.

Posted by Mike Schaefer at June 3, 2007 12:29 PM

comment #17

Cadavra says ...

Travolta's not even Harvey Fierstein, who won a Tony for the role on Broadway and would've played it in the movie if the producers had even a shred of integrity.

Posted by Cadavra at June 3, 2007 9:59 PM

comment #18