Campy

"Campy" is the word to describe the movies released in cinemas this month.

First there's 881, a local production about getai and the story about two childhood friends who strive to become successful getai singers. Like a Grease-esque film, except that it is in Hokkien, and with a lot of glitter, neon lights and feathers.

Three things in the show that captivates me: (1) The pretty catchy Hokkien songs used in it, which goes around in your head after watching. (2) The story plot, although I deemed the input of magical powers a bit ridiculous. (3) Actress Liu Ling Ling for her funny antics as a loud-mouthed nanny to the two close girl-friends.

Showing in the same month is another similar musical-themed film, Hairspray. A remade of the original, it's about a high school girl trying to attain success on a local Baltimore dance show, but faces obstacles because of her body size, racial discrimination, and a pair of evil mother-and-daughter stoppers.

While the focus is on a high school girl, this show is more like a high school gathering for some of the casts. Starring two of Grease alumni - John Travolta (original Grease star) who was transformed into a funny-looking fat mama in it; and Michelle Pfieffer (Grease 2), who has resurfaced into the scene and looking prettier these days.

And then there's High School Musical heart throb, Zac Efron, together with other familiar faces like X-men's "Cyclops" James Marsden and Queen Latifah. I'm definitely going to watch this because it is so retro, so bubblegum that I feel like eating it up.

Finally we had Poltergay, a lesser known French comedy movie about five gay disco-lover ghosts who are still stuck in the 70s and disturbs the life of a couple living in a what-used-to-be-a-discotheque-formerly house.

Glam, disco, glitter, music, retro, bubblegum, campy, kitsch, cheesy - these movies are tasteful to me!