FOCUS GROUP: Can ‘Hairspray’ get toes tapping?

We've assembled representatives of some of Hollywood's key demographics. Each week, our group weighs in on the coming weekend's releases, letting us know whether all the script fixes, the re-shoots and the product tie-in campaigns have added up to a movie they are likely to see.
THE CHARACTERS:

The Christian
Keenan Roberts: Senior pastor of New Destiny Christian Center in Northglenn, Colo., as well as director of the ministries of the Hell House Outreach.

The Rapper
GLC: Originally from Chicago, he now lives in Los Angeles where he is at work on his album.

The College Boy
Justin Scharf: A freshman at Georgia State University. He is 6-foot-3, listens to a lot of music, and works at Starbucks.

The Teenage Girl
Elena Roye: An eighth-grader at a middle school in Westchester County, N.Y.

The City Girl
Carol Creighton: Lives in the West Village of Manhattan. She is a manager for a pharmaceutical company, volunteers at a women's shelter, and enjoys her martinis with a twist.


This week we see first hand that gay-themed films, even those that actually star straight characters make some of our focus group uncomfortable. We also learn that at least according to this group, the musical is far from over.

THE MOVIES:


The film version of the stage musical based on John Waters' 1988 comedy about dance-crazy teens in early-1960s Baltimore.

Keenan: "When I see Travolta playing the part of the mother on the commercials I'm not sure whether to be amused or get queasy. I almost have to look away, but not quite. I'm not really a musical movie lover, but wifey grew up in an Italian New York family that was. Her classic Italian Papa with the amazing tenor voice loved musicals and knew the words to every song. If he was still around he'd love TV's 'The Singing Bee.' I bet Anjela has me in a toe-tappin' seat in less than a month."

GLC: Let me see, this is about fat girls with bad hairdos? I think it is will be an inspiration to fat girls to make their bad hair sweat it out and make them sweat out a few pounds. I'll go see it and I encourage other people to go see it."

Justin: "This one cracks me up because all the attention it got was about John Travolta playing a woman, and he's said it took him 14 months to decide to take the role. Since when was John Travolta picky about his roles? That is such a lie! You were in 'Swordfish,' OK? That being said, I think we are going to see it because my girlfriend is really into musicals."

Elena: "Yeah, I want to see that. I haven't seen the musical, and I'm more likely to see the movie than the musical. I like the mom in the movie. And I think it was on MTV or something, isn't it a man that plays a woman for the mom? I was watching what his wife thought about it and she started to cry when she first saw him."

Carol: "I doubt I will see this. I like a lot of the people in the movie but I doubt I would spend the time watching it. Also, in regards to the John Travolta drama around Scientology and the gay community I have noticed very few of their ads have him as the big STAR. Just an observation, it did not impact my thoughts on seeing the movie or not."


Adam Sandler and "The King of Queens'" Kevin James star as firefighters and best buddies who scheme to reap the benefits afforded to same-sex domestic partners in this comedy. With Jessica Biel.

Keenan: "There is no question that Adam Sandler and Kevin James are hilarious. But…I absolutely, will not, can not, won't, shouldn't, you couldn't pay me, drag me, push me, pull me, tug me, or tow me to support, finance, and/or show even the slight bit of interest in yet another movie built completely around 'gay' subject matter. Turn the page Hollywood! LA and NY'ers can flock to this in droves. But as long as you keep making films with this as the centerpiece the middle of the country will be saturating your theaters with our absence."

GLC: "I don't want to see that. It reminds me of that movie 'Gay Blades'…I mean 'Blades of Glory.' Adam Sandler is one of my favorite actors and 'Water Boy' is one of my favorite movies. I hate to see him fall off and have to marry a firefighter."

Justin: "Adam Sandler and the 'King of Queens' guy are two of the least likable actors I can think of but the movie doesn't look horrible at all. Definitely not like Swordfish level. But I don't want to see it. It would have been better if it came out when gay marriage was a huge hot button issue-- when George Bush was using that issue to get elected."

Elena: "Yeah. It seems really funny. Basically it just seems really funny and I like the two actors that pretend be gay or whatever."

Carol: "OK, I have a huge crush on Adam Sandler, and Kevin James is a riot. The plot and story line are a little lame, but I have to believe this will be funny, or at least vaguely humorous. Anyway, not my first pick but I would put it in my netflix queue."