"Spray" it on

Yes, Adam Shankman was perhaps a little bit over the top, bouncing on those front row theater seats at the Clarity Screening Room before introducing some "Frankentrailer" footage of his new movie-musical "Hairspray."

"The movies I usually make are about baby pooh," said the director of "The Pacifier" and "Cheaper by the Dozen 2." "This is a huge deal for me."

Then the footage rolled, the song and dance began, and you could kind of get the guy's enthusiasm. "Hairspray," based on the Broadway musical which was itself based on the John Waters movie, concerns a pudgy teen-ager Tracy Turnblad in 1960s Baltimore who is looking to integrate the local TV dance show.

John Travolta (in the role formerly played by Divine) looks recognizably Travolta-esque (plus sized version) as Tracy's mother, Edna. Yes, he dances, sings and looks wistfully at large plates of food. Christopher Walken is Tracy's prank shop owner father (he and Travolta share a cheek peck). Queen Latifah should be a scream as record store owner Motormouth Maybelle.

Michelle Pfeiffer (and where the heck has she been for the last five years?) is the evil mother looking to keep the Corny Collins Show lily white. And newbie Nikki Blonski is Tracy. She sings the final bars of the opening number "Good Morning Baltimore" riding atop a garbage truck.

There was a rumor somewhere that original writer/director Waters has a cameo as a flasher. Rikki Lake (the original Tracy Turnblad) should show up as well.

The John Waters musical hit parade continues this winter as the La Jolla Playhouse musicalizes Waters' "Cry-Baby." Someone figures to put a few bars to "Pink Flamingos" any day now.