Hairspray

Rating: PG

Movie Release Date: July 13, 2007

DVD Release Date: November 20. 2007

Plot 411: The fat chick gets the last laugh - and fights against racial prejudice.

Review: Tracy (Nikki Blonsky) and Penny (Amanda Bynes) are huge fans of Corny Collins (James Marsden) and his dance show. They can barely make it through school before rushing home to catch the program. When the show announces auditions, Tracy is eager to try out. However, her mom (John Travolta in drag - shudder) doesn't like the idea. The show and its manager Velma (Michelle Pfeiffer) supports segregation and only allows black kids to dance once a month on a special day. The kids practice their moves in detention, where Tracy is sent when she skips school. When Velma cancels "Negro Day," Tracy organizes a rally to protest. The movie also stars Zac Efron, Christopher Walken and Queen Latifah. Now this musical is more of what I'm used to. It's lively and upbeat with great singing and dancing all the way through. I thoroughly enjoyed it. Even Walken's creepy weirdness was charming in this role. Despite focusing on something as common as one girl's dream of dancing stardom, this movie is also able to incorporate serious topics like racial equality, segregation and prejudice. Not only does it comment on the black/white divide of the '60s, it highlights negative perceptions about body image too. Not bad for a movie where everyone is busy singing and dancing.

Watch It: For the great musical elements.

Skip It: If you enjoyed Sweeney Todd as this is the polar opposite of that.

17 Again

Rating: PG-13

Movie Release Date: April 17, 2009

DVD Release Date: August 11, 2009

Plot 411: A guy in his 30s regrets a lot of things in his life and is given the opportunity to go back to high school and change things.

Review: On the surface, this is just another remake of 13 Going On 30 or Freaky Friday where a character relives the past. However, surprisingly this movie is a lot more and is better for it. Zac Efron and Matthew Perry play Mike, a guy who gave up his chance at a baskeball scholarship to support his pregnant girlfriend. (There is no way Perry looked like Efron growing up, but I guess we're supposed to overlook that and several other things to make this film work.) Despite believing that it was the right thing to do, Mike still has regrets about the things that could've been. His wife (Leslie Mann/Allison Miller) is on the verge of divorcing him when he magically reverts back to his 17-year-old self and gets a do over. Yes, the transformation is pretty farfetched, but whatever. This is Hollywood. Even though this is a cheesy teen flick, I've gotta admit that it had more substance than most films of this genre. It deals with adult issues despite taking place in a teenaged world. The movie also deals with those weird interactions between the character who goes back in time (Mike) and the real teens of that generation (his children). I think that's a first. And for the very first time, I see what millions of teens and tweens around the world see in Zac Efron - well, besides the pearly whites and crystal clear blue eyes that is. He's really good in this role and is more than just man (boy) candy. I might just go back and watch all those High School Musicals because of it. If he could only get away from the mainstream Disney stuff and try his luck with some real indies, we'd get to see his full potential. Oh well, I digress.

Watch It: To learn of the true beauty that is Zac Efron.

Skip It: If you're so over his sweaty basketball-playing bod.