Cry-Baby

"Juvenile delinquents are everywhere. Right here in this community. Boys with long hair and tattoos who spit on the sidewalk. Girls who wear tight slacks. Hysterectomy pants, I call them." -Mrs. Vernon-Williams

John Water's Cry-Baby is a fun-loving, campy musical set in 1954 about a "square" turned "drape," Allison Vernon-Williams (Amy Locane). Tired of being good, Allison falls hard for Wade "Cry-Baby" Walker (Johnny Depp), named for his ability to shed a single tear, who (crazily enough) has got it bad for Allison. But between Allison's disapproving boyfriend and grandmother and Cry-Baby-obsessed Lenora, the two have some difficulty finding their happy ending.

One of Johnny Depp's lesser known and John Water's best known movies, Cry-Baby is a quirky and original romance that features a wide array of interesting supporting characters and random humor that reminds us why we love musicals. It does an interesting job of retelling the boy-and-girl-from-opposite-sides-of-the-tracks story and is completely charming while doing it. I've seen it a couple times and it has become one of my favorite musicals from sheer camp value and soundtrack alone. If you have any fondness for the 50s and its music, you'll love this movie. 4 stars.