Slog - Comments on John Travolta's Aggressive Suckery http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking When I first heard that the new movie musical of Hairspray would star John Travolta as Edna Turnblad (originated on film by the brilliant Divine and reprised in the musical by a Tony-winning Harvey Feirstein), I did more than reserve judgment--I actively hoped Travolta was harboring some untapped camp talent that would make the casting make sense and perhaps result in triumph. It seemed possible: Why would John Travolta want to do something he's horrible at? Who knows, but judging from this preview clip, he does, and has, and it ain't pretty. As Defamer notes, "The scene prominently features... Copyright 2008 Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:14:31 -0800 Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:48:56 -0800 http://www.movabletype.org/?v=3.34 http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss Comment by Nick Here is a clip of him singing and dancing. Mmmm. The singing and dancing seem good, the speaking voice, not so much.

http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809751355/video/3046572/standardformat

]]> Nick http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743888 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743888 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:29:20 -0800 Comment by monkey I'm torn on this movie. On the one side is John "Battlefield Earth" Travolta who I never expected to do anything but butcher Edna. But I heart Allison Janney in so many ways shapes and forms that I don't see how I can not see it.

]]> monkey http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743890 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743890 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:31:01 -0800 Comment by Levislade I sat through the trailer for this (along with several other horrible, horrible-looking comedies) before Knocked Up recently, and I really, really wanted to punch something. I hope John Waters is being well-compensated for this travesty.

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743892 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743892 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:32:24 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe John Travolta sucks dick in hell.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743894 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743894 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 09:37:31 -0800 Comment by elswinger I'll wait for Pink Flamingos: The Musical.

]]> elswinger http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743910 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743910 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:00:07 -0800 Comment by adrian! this infuriates me. i can't even explain it. i am offended, travolta, you fucking fat ass homo closeted hosebag alien worshiping no talent etc.

and this time, it's personal.

]]> adrian! http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743942 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743942 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:27:44 -0800 Comment by Phenics Hmmm... sounds about as fun as a drag show at a frat house... I wonder if John shaved his legs at least?

]]> Phenics http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743967 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743967 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 10:54:35 -0800 Comment by Mark Mitchell Sort of off-topic, but Kurt and I saw a preview for some HEINOUS "gay-themed" movie with Adam Sandler and Kevin James.

Offensive.

In the bad way.

]]> Mark Mitchell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743987 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743987 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:11:15 -0800 Comment by Mark Mitchell And I'm living to hear Alison Janney tell Penny Pingleton that she's permanently punished.

]]> Mark Mitchell http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743991 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c743991 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 11:12:24 -0800 Comment by Levislade @8 - yes, that was one of the other awful trailers I saw. Something like I now pronounce you Chuck and Larry? I don't know, but it looked awful. One of two trailers I saw for movies with a main/title character named Chuck, no less. (There were also two different ones that involved adorable female love interests clumsily smacking into poles and falling to the ground. Seriously.)

]]> Levislade http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744056 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744056 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 12:08:33 -0800 Comment by Mr. Poe @10

It's a rip-off of Bed Strangers or Bed Fellows or whatever. I don't remember the title. Haven't seen either. Don't want to see either. Knock on wood.

]]> Mr. Poe http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744122 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744122 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:22:58 -0800 Comment by keshmeshi They didn't cast Fierstein because...?

I understand why they didn't cast the original Ulla in The Producers. She was very much a stage actress and wouldn't have done well on screen.

But Fierstein has done movies before. WTF?

]]> keshmeshi http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744140 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744140 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 13:40:19 -0800 Comment by Bauhaus I admired his performance in "Primary Colors." But, Dave, you're right. He's got Edna soooo wrong. The comedy of the role is supposed to be tongue-in-cheek - even Divine toned it down to do Edna; Travolta has her as a Vaudevillian clown. Pity.

My Queen's looking good though.

]]> Bauhaus http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744255 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744255 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:17:54 -0800 Comment by still_dottie i've seen the original at least 100 times (i'm not sure what that says about me since i'm only 25). i hate to be so fussy & critical of movie remakes, but you've got to be fucking kidding me with this. it's a disaster waiting to happen, queen latifah, john travolta, no thanks...i'll stick with deborah harry & divine.

it's the times. they are a-changin'. Something's blowing in the wind. fetch me my diet pills, would you?

]]> still_dottie http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744264 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744264 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 15:22:33 -0800 Comment by seattlesucks They didn't cast Fierstein because...?

They didn't cast Fierstein because

(1) He was a huge dick when it came to the Broadway show, more or less demanding an ungodly percentage of the box office that rightfully belonged to the creators. Which people are still shocked that he got. He burned a lot of bridges.

(2) To make this a film, big names were required--and amazingly, Travolta is still a name.

P.S.--the Crybaby readings have been fantastic. I think it's slated for 2008, though I'm not sure.

]]> seattlesucks http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744384 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744384 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 17:06:19 -0800 Comment by David K. Gosh, if his eyes were any closer together he'd be a cyclops.

Mommy, I'm scared...

]]> David K. http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744423 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744423 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 18:07:02 -0800 Comment by Milbarge For what it's worth, a lot of people in Maryland think they're in the South. The state is below the Mason-Dixon line, for one thing. Maryland was a slave state during most of the Civil War, and Lincoln had to suspend habeas corpus there and jail a bunch of legislators to keep them from voting to secede.

And, if that's not enough, during the seventh inning stretch of Orioles games at Camden Yards, they play John Denver's "Thank God I'm A Country Boy." Really.

Still, the "Balmer" accent isn't quite a "Southern" accent, and it might be asking too much for Travolta to master the nuance.

]]> Milbarge http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744541 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c744541 Arts Fri, 15 Jun 2007 23:24:11 -0800 Comment by jennifer u ppl suck dicks in hell!!!!! JOHN TRAVOLTA IS NOT GOING TO RUIN THIS FILM!!!

]]> jennifer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c751454 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c751454 Arts Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:48:55 -0800 Comment by jennifer u ppl suck dicks in hell!!!!! JOHN TRAVOLTA IS NOT GOING TO RUIN THIS FILM!!!

]]> jennifer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c751457 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c751457 Arts Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:48:56 -0800 Comment by jennifer u ppl suck dicks in hell!!!!! JOHN TRAVOLTA IS NOT GOING TO RUIN THIS FILM!!!

]]> jennifer http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c751458 http://slog.thestranger.com/2007/06/john_travoltas_aggressive_sucking#c751458 Arts Mon, 25 Jun 2007 16:48:56 -0800