John Waters' movies are perhaps acquired taste (read: first class TRASH!),but "Cry-Baby" is a fairly accessible and comical romp, complete with great music, very likable performances and a moody 50's atmosphere. Obviously mocking "Grease", the story is set in a Baltimore high school where teen idol Johnny Depp leads the "Drapes" thug gang versus the chic and fancy "Squares". The hormones work at maximum power and Depp's character inevitably falls for the most popular square-girl in school. Arguments like these can only be settled with rough fights and…dance contests! Johnny Depp and Amy Locane are both great in their lead roles, but it's the supportive cast that impresses the most. More particularly ex-porn star Traci Lords, Kim McGuire as Hatchet-Face (you can't but stare at her grimaces),Iggy Pop and Ricky Lake (as Depp's wild sister in a constant state of pregnancy). The gags are more tasteful than usual but all John Waters' trademarks are still present. "Cry-Baby" is a strangely sexy film that'll definitely bring a smile on your face. Recommended!

The late 80s and 90s were an odd time for fans of John Waters films. The oddball director had become mainstream and while the films during this "normal" time period were very watchable and fun, compared to the rough and raunchy older films he had made you'd almost think that this was made by a different man. Now I am not complaining--HAIRSPRAY, CRY-BABY and the rest are really good films. It's just that Waters' style changed so much that the films are tough to recognize as his since they lack the offensiveness that many have come to love!! Last night I saw CRY-BABY for the second time. The first time I saw it I was disappointed because I was hoping for a film more like his classics FEMALE TROUBLE and POLYESTER--and at that time I still hadn't seen any of his other mainstream films. However, in seeing it again I realize that although CRY-BABY lacks Divine (he'd died after making HAIRSPRAY) and the crudeness of the earlier Waters films, it is still a heck of a good film. There is a certain energy and silliness about the film that make it better than most other musicals. That's because although this truly is a musical, it's also a parody--being very much over the top and kooky---and I loved this kookiness because it was so much fun.

Instead of the 1950s of most films, CRY-BABY is warped. While Johnny Depp seemed almost right out of films like THE WILD ONE, his friends and family were more like guests from THE JERRY SPRINGER SHOW than what you'd expect from the era. You know it's a whacked out group when one of the most normal among them is played by Traci Lords (an ex-porn star). I also loved the touches such as the whole disgusting look of Hatchet-Face and one set of parents who are played by David Nelson (from OZZIE AND HARRIET fame) and Patty Hearst (a perennial Waters performer and former SLA member). It's like the 50s on acid and is MUCH more wacky and weird than HAIRSPRAY.

If it were all just weirdness, then the film would have very quickly lost my attention. However, the film has exceptional 50s style music that you can't help enjoy and many of the musical numbers are hilarious parodies of other musicals (such as JAILHOUSE ROCK). There is also a certain silly charm about the film that you can't help but love. While it's not quite as good a film as HAIRSPRAY (1988),due in part to some plot holes (why did Polly Bergen change so quickly?) the film is still a fun and entertaining ride.

After three years of 21 Jump Street, Johnny Depp jumped his contract and got out of the series that made him a name. He knew what he could do and he knew that staying there he probably would continue to be like so many teen idols, forgotten the second their television show completed its run. Ironically though in Cry-Baby written, produced, and directed by John Waters, what was Depp doing, but spoofing the kind of part that brought him TV stardom.

He looks like he's having a good old time playing a James Dean type rebel with what he considers a good cause, the love of teen dream Amy Locane. Amy's from the right side of the tracks, raised by her grandmother Polly Bergen whereas Depp as Wade 'Cry-Baby' Walker lives a Tortilla Flat like existence

Cry-Baby is yet another one of John Waters's salutes to his childhood memories of the Fifties in Baltimore. If Cry-Baby looks a lot like Grease, well I would say that Waters is homaging outrageously. Though Johnny Depp is dubbed while singing, he manages to create and keep the illusion very well. A nice score both written and interpolated for the film helps bring the Fifties back again.

Throughout the cast you'll see a lot of familiar names looking like they're having a real good time in their roles. Former Teen idols like Joey Heatherton, Troy Donahue, and David Nelson really do get into the spirit of Cry-Baby.

The inevitable chicken run is the highlight of the film. But the run does have a twist. See Cry-Baby and find out just what that is.