5. Hairspray (2007)
Let’s get one thing straight; Hairspray is one of the cheesiest movie musicals – one of the cheesiest movies, in fact – in the history of cinema. The 2007 remake of the 1988 classic, based on the stage musical of the same name, is pervaded by shining white smiles, sparkly dance routines and bright-and-bouncy musical numbers, and that’s exactly what makes it one of the most easily uplifting movies to ever hit our screens. Performed by all-star cast including John Travolta, Michelle Pffeifer and Christopher Walken, Tracy Turnblad and co. hop, skip and shimmy their way through life in 1960s Baltimore in a way that’s so toe-tappingly infectious, it’s impossible not grin and chuckle your way through it with them.
Not only is it happy-go-lucky and genuinely funny, Hairspray with hard-hitting issues of body image, racism and the media in a way that won’t addle your brain, but will still make you feel that you’ve been watching something worthwhile (and have you belting Queen Latifah’s “I Know Where I’ve Been” in the shower, on the bus and pretty much everywhere else). After the brain-numbing stress of exams, essays and endless revision, Hairspray is the perfect pick-me-up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iJ53mRO80c0
Words by Amie Bailey – @amiebailey