Film Analysis

Film: Hairspray

Ordinary World: Tracy Turnblad wakes up in her favorite city Baltimore and heads to school.  After school she runs home with her best friend Penny Pingleton and watches the Corny Collins show.

The Call:  Brenda, a member of the cast of the Corny Collins show, is taking a leave of absence ("Only nine months") and the show needs a new cast member.

Refusal:  Tracy is excited to go try out, but when she runs the idea past her mother she immediately tells Tracy no.  Tracy argues her best but her mother wants her to become a laundress.

Mentor:  Tracy runs to her room, defeated and angry with her mother, when her dad comes in to talk to her.  It looks like he's only going to comfort her, but instead tells her to buck-up and go for her dream, "you gotta be big to be big". 

Threshold:  Tracy goes to the audition, where the station's manager, Vhelma Vontussil, tells her she will never dance on television due to her size.  Tracy returns to school late and is in turn sent to detention.  In detention she catches the eye of the Corny Collin's Show's star Link Larkin and he tells her she should go to the dance and show off for none other than Corny Collins himself.  Tracy goes to the dance, shows her stuff, and makes it on the show.

Tests, Allies, and Enemies:  Amber Vontussil becomes extremely jealous of Tracy as she now has all of the lime light, and sets out to get revenge.  Tracy on the other hand is more popular than ever, everyone wants to be her newest friend.  With the detention crowd, Tracy, Penny, and Link Larkin all meet Seaweed, Lil' Inez, and then their eccentric mother "Motermouth" Mabelle.  While at a dance at Mabelle's record studio, Vhelma Vontussil attempts to seduce Tracy's father and break up the family, but the attempt falls flat when Tracy's parents make up and reaffirm their love for one another.

Approach: The group at Mabelle's party all receive terrible news that Negro Day on the Corny Collins Show has been canceled.  The group plans to protest the TV station and show they won't take this outrage.  Tracy must debate whether or not to go with them.

The Ordeal:  Tracy attends the protest, ruining any chance of her ever dancing on TV again, and the group marches on the station.  The crowd of peaceful protesters meets a police barricade upon arriving at the station, and are told they cannot peaceably pass.  Tracy losses per patience with the officer and smacks him gently with the sign.  The officer takes the action as an act of violence and commands his officers to take them all in.

Reward:  After Tracy flees, she escapes the police and hides at Penny's house.  Penny and Seaweed admit their love for each other, and over long distance Tracy and Lark do the same.

The Road Back:  The reformed group decide to crash the Miss Hairspray Pageant and get Tracy onto the stage to perform, they stage an elaborate break-in and let Tracy get in position for her big performance.

Resurrection:  Just as Corny Collins is about to announce that Amber has won the Miss Hairspray Pageant, Tracy comes onto the stage from above in a smoking rocket ship and announces Amber is about to get out danced.  Tracy performs and the show turns into anarchy as Link dances with Lil' Inez, Lil' Inez ends up winning the Pageant, and the show is integrated on a moments notice.  The entire Corny Collins Cast, black and white, break out into one final dance number.

Return with Elixir:  Tracy and Link are reunited, and in one final moment are caught up in a kiss that seals their love.