Hairspray: B+

As far as musicals go, I prefer the stage to the cinema. The silk screen, while gaining new and innovative ways to tell stories, loses something a live performance has. That said, the new release of the classic "Hairspray" is a fun film that teaches serious lessons and features some amazing vocal performances.\nTracy Turnblad (Nikki Blonsky) is an overweight high-school student who has one dream -- to dance on the Corny Collins Show. Lacking the pretty-girl glamour, Tracy has a tough road to walk. But with the help of her mother Edna (John Travolta) and father Wilbur (Christopher Walken), Tracy is able to attain her dream. When she tries to stand up for those who are different, however, her world is turned upside down.\n"Hairspray" features an all-star cast, including Travolta as a 300-pound woman, Walken as a joke-shop owner, Michelle Pfeifer as the evil station manager, Amanda Bynes as a tag-along best friend and Queen Latifah as a fun-loving and strong leader. But they are all outshined by the light of a newcomer. I must admit that from the first note of "Good Morning Baltimore," I was in love with Tracy Turnblad and Blonsky. From her beautiful voice to the superb way she captured her character's depth, Blonsky steals the show from the rest of the also-prolific cast. \nWhat the film lacks in live performance it clearly gains in camera work, able to show close-up shots of '60s dance steps and important events. The screen release of "Hairspray" is an intelligently shot piece that will have patrons glad they are in the movie \ntheater.\nRarely am I stunned by an actress's performance, but in "Hairspray," Blonsky did just that. I'm going to write her a letter and tell her how deeply in love I am with her. While I'm doing that, you should be at the movie theater.