John Waters' HAIRSPRAY amazes me more than a lot of recent films, simply because of its source. Remember, Waters is the man who brought dog-excrement-eating to the big screen. The man who turned an overweight homosexual into an accomplished actor and budding star. While other underground shock directors were simply throwing stones at the windows of Mr. & Mrs. Mainstream, Waters was somehow given a set of keys while they were on vacation.

The film focuses on Baltimore, MD, circa 1962. The 'Corny Collins Show' is the local version of 'American Bandstand,' and obviously a salute to the 'Buddy Deane' program that Waters recollects so fondly in his book Crackpot. Every kid in the city longs to dance on the program, but few have the ability. Pretty, chunky Tracy Turnblad (Rikki Lake) finally gets her shot and makes the program. Soon, the tubby teen is doing "The Frug" and "The Swim" with the hottest kids on TV, and she's attracting a great deal of attention as well.

Amber Von Tussle, reigning queen of the program is upset, and her parents (well-played by the unctious pre-political, pre-skiing-into-a-tree Sonny Bono and the seething, pre-comeback Debbie Harry) are concerned that their spawn may lose the battle for Miss Baltimore Car Show. It seems that only Waters could take these elements, combine them with the "teen message" flick and come up with a hit.

But, it doesn't end there. Not only do Sonny and Debbie play a set of parents, but the dream cast also features Jerry Stiller and Divine (who died shortly before the flick's release) as Tracey's parents, and the team of Pia Zadora and Ric Ocasek as dope-smoking beatniks. Waters regulars Mary Vivian Pierce and Mink Stole also have roles, and the director himself almost steals the picture as a demented psychiatrist.

Filmed in Waters' hometown of Baltimore and on location at Allentown, PA's Dorney Park, the film is a wonderful addition to the director's filmography. Thanks to filmmakers like Waters I have hope that there's some life left in the film industry.