Inspired by the 1988 John Waters film and the smash hit 2002 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical, Adam Shankman's all singing, all dancing spectacular is proof positive that size matters - the size of your heart, that is.

Set in 1962 Baltimore - a city riven by racial tension - Hairspray isn't just a feel-good fairytale. It's a feel-absolutely-blinking-marvellous fairytale, putting a sassy, hip-swivelling spin on the Cinderella fantasy.

Director Shankman, who spent the early part of his career as a dancer and choreographer, returns to his high-kicking roots, delivering a toe-tapping tale of tolerance and understanding that bursts at the seams with joy.

The stellar cast appear to be having a ball and their energy is infectious, carrying the film along for two giddy hours on a wave of rousing musical numbers and tender emotion.

Like its previous incarnations, the third generation Hairspray casts a complete unknown in the pivotal role of big-haired dreamer Tracy Turnblad.

Here it's 18-year-old newcomer Nikki Blonsky, the perfect embodiment of the ever optimistic and perky heroine, who believes that she was born to boogie.

Tracy lives with her parents Wilbur (Christopher Walken) and Edna (John Travolta) above the Har-De-Har Hut joke shop run by her doting father.

The overweight teenager's greatest dream is to appear on The Corny Collins Show, a hip 'n' happening dance party hosted by showman Corny, which has a monthly Negro Day, overseen by Motormouth Maybelle (Queen Latifah).

Tracy puts her best foot forward to impress dreamboat Link Larkin, instantly making an enemy of starlet Amber Von Tussle, whose mother Velma (Michelle Pfeiffer) runs television station WYZT. Meanwhile, Tracy's best friend Penny Pingleton (Bynes) outrages her Bible-bashing mother by falling in love with Maybelle's son, Seaweed.

Hairspray is the most unabashedly entertaining film of the summer. Screenwriter Leslie Dixon performs significant cosmetic surgery on the stage musical, liposuctioning myriad musical numbers to trim the running time.

The ensemble cast is sensational. Production values are high throughout, while the dance sequences will have you jiggling in your seat.

Fans of the Waters' film will spot cameos by the director, plus Ricki Lake and Jerry Stiller.

Big girls, you are beautiful.

OUR RATING: Four stars out of five