Always more than a little offbeat, the newest "Hairspray" film isn't as delightfully subversive as its ancestor, but puts a curl in our world anyway. You don't walk away from it as much as glide.

Based on the 1988 John Waters cult-classic film, and the more recent Broadway musical smash, this "Hairspray" also boasts its own DNA, with several new songs written by the same talents who guided the stage show.

The plot remains mostly the same. The perky, overweight teen Tracy (Nikki Blonsky) is pining in angst in 1962 Baltimore for something big to happen in her life. She's gaga over one of the teen stars on the local TV station's dance and variety show, but also hip and savvy enough to know that the best music and dance is coming from the local black teen population, a talented group segregated from its white counterparts.

Tracy gets along with her parents, despite their eccentricities. Carrying on the tradition of the late Divine and, then Harvey Fierstein, it's John Travolta's turn to play the role in drag. As the large, kind and ever-concerned Edna, Travolta dons a fat suit (or two) and returns to movie musicals for this much talked-about appearance as a kindhearted mom who is both graceful in dance and hungry for doughnuts. He wears the plus-size dress with pride, and delivers with comic grace. Playing Edna's supportive husband is Christopher Walken, again perfectly odd.

Meanwhile, Tracy wins a role on the hit TV show, where her can-do progressive attitude leads to problems with the villain of the piece, the winning-obsessed racist prig of a station manager Velma, played by Michelle Pfeiffer. When Tracy becomes a star, Velma goes loony-mean. By the time the city's black kids and their strong-willed leader (Queen Latifah) have made their talent and pride known, previously close-minded Baltimore will never be the same, and changes for the better are on the way.

"Hairspray" has no time for fiddle-faddle, breaking into song and dance from the get-go and rarely taking a breather. The songs are mostly peppy rock and soul numbers, jumping and grooving and feeling just right. Even if the lyrics aren't so memorable, the energy and melodies are, and warmth surrounds.

With a few choice cameos and the spirit of the original film respected, "Hairspray" enjoys the aroma of a winner, even if it's actually the Waters film "Polyester" that you smell. No matter, "Hairspray" sticks with you.

B+

"Hairspray"

Starring: John Travolta, Nikky Blonsky, Michelle Pfeiffer, Christopher Walken

Director: Adam Shankman

Studio: New Line Cinema

Rated: PG (for language, some suggestive content and momentary teen smoking)

RT: 107 minutes