Let us 'spray

"HAIRSPRAY" IS the perfect movie distraction for the summer — frothy fun, kid-friendly and relevant.

A musical comedy even for people not partial to the species, this fast-paced and sure-footed production has the stuff to quicken anyone's pulse. And it's likely to keep you thinking and talking long after the exit music — when you go out for ice cream, are hanging at the office water cooler or even return to the classroom come fall.

While pledging allegiance to both John Waters' original, cult-appeal 1988 film comedy and the Broadway musical version that's been selling out since 2002, the new "Hairspray" dances to a sweeter, more cartoonish and mainstream beat.

It's still the story of a bubbly, plus-sized Caucasian teen named Tracy Turnblad (effervescent newcomer Nikki Blonsky), who won't take "no" for an answer when she and her black classmates are denied access to a Baltimore TV teen dance party in 1962 — the aptly named "Corny Collins Show."

But the filmmakers have considerably softened Waters' ultimate commentary about outsiders and inclusion — the storyteller's gesture of casting a guy in drag as Tracy's mom, Edna Turnblad. In the original film, the part was seized by the freaky Divine (Harris Glen Milstead) — a major turnoff to mainstream audiences. On Broadway, the gravel-voiced and very gay Harvey Fierstein was fooling nobody in the role, tee hee.

Now, however, it's John Travolta — the ultimate macho movie-musical star from "Grease" and "Saturday Night Fever" days — who's put on a 30-pound fat suit and become a perfectly believable and agreeable Edna, a transformation not unlike Dustin Hoffman's charmed embodiment of Tootsie. You won't even wince when this Edna and her spouse Wilbur (played by another talented song-and-dance man, Christopher Walken) trip the light fantastic and smooch in the razzle-dazzle, kiss-and-make-up number "(You're) Timeless To Me." You'll be happy for them.

Fans of 1960s teen rock, R&B, protest and Broadway music will relish the period accuracy of the tunes that composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have summoned up in their Technicolor-bright score — with era-perfect teased hair-dos, costumes and scenery to match.

They had me, but good, from the opening notes of the big beat, "wall of sound" stomping "Good Morning Baltimore" (sung by Tracy atop a garbage truck) to the brash, bluesy "The Legend of Miss Baltimore Crabs," a wacky send-up of beauty contests (and Broadway show-stoppers) nailed by Michelle Pfeiffer in the role of the wickedly snotty, racist TV-station manager Velma Von Tussle.

Likewise evocative, Tracy's longing "I Can Hear the Bells" harkens to a gazillion girly-song wedding wishes of the pre-feminist era. And how 'bout the incendiary soul attack of "Run and Tell That" — stoked by young Elijah Kelley in classic Wilson Pickett/Jackie Wilson fashion — and the stormy, gospel-toned civil-rights anthem voiced by Kelley's on-screen mom, played by Queen Latifah, "I Know Where I've Been"? Written just for the film, the latter is likely to get movie viewers welled up with black pride, and talking about how bad race relations really were "back in the day."

Sure to lure in younger moviegoers are some teen talents they know quite well. Zac Efron, the heartthrob of "High School Musical" and "Summerland," plays Link Larkin, the most popular dancer, pop star wannabe and all-around nice guy on the "American Bandstand"-like TV show — hair dyed jet black and crooning like a latter-day James Darren or Fabian.

Nickelodeon graduate Amanda Bynes is a delight as Tracy's friend, Penny, who leads her own integration movement by taking up with Kelley's character, Seaweed.

And Brittany Snow ("Nip/Tuck," "American Dreams") is the villainess-in-training, Amber Von Tussle, who conspires with her mom to keep Tracy off TV and out of Link's arms.

Even the supporting roles are juicy here, including James Marsden as the dance-party host and Allison Janney as Penny's uptight mom, Prudy. Jerry Stiller, who played Wilbur in the original "Hairspray" film, returns as the plus-size clothing store king Mr. Pinky, who helps Tracy and Edna in the self-esteem department. And if you look quick in the opening number, you'll see John Waters himself — bless his wicked little heart. *

Produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, directed by Adam Shankman, written by Leslie Dixon, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman, distributed by New Line Cinema.