Dirty Dancing (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
'Dirty Dancing' (a forbidden romance film directed by Emile Ardolino) is probably one of the guiltiest of guilty pleasure movies that ever came out of Hollywood. It shouldn't have to be so guilty though ... I actually think it's a great little movie; a movie that happened to rock audiences both back in 1987 and still today, some 30+ years later. I love it. The year is 1963, and 17 yr. old Frances "Baby" Houseman (adorable Jennifer Grey), is spending the summer with her stern-but-loving doctor father (Jerry Orbach), housewife mother (Kelly Bishop) & vainglorious older sister Lisa (Jane Bruckner) at a resort in the Catskills. Baby plans on being in the Peace Corps next summer, so this would be her last summer as a carefree adolescent.
Bored by the old-skewed guests/functions at said resort, that all changes one fateful night when Baby wanders into staff quarters to see everyone 'dirty dancing'. Baby is particularly struck by the handsome dance instructor-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) -- she wants to be near him at all times. When Johnny's attractive dance partner, Penny (Cynthia Rhodes), finds herself pregnant from of the waiters, Robbie (Max Cantor), Baby volunteers to learn her steamy dance steps & take her place. Howwwever, Baby's father gets wind of her daughter's actions. And convinced that Johnny is a low-life, he condemns Baby to continue the romance. Tears & disappointment follow before a joyous climax rights the mood.
It is difficult to express just how much I love this thoroughly re-watchable classic. Whether it's the nostalgia of the 1960s milieu, the characters you root for, the flashy dance sequences, the incredible soundtrack {including "Hungry Eyes", Patrick Swayze crooning "She's Like the Wind"} ... 'Dirty Dancing' has the ability to cast quite the spell. Jennifer Grey is wonderful as the shy, idealistic Baby, whose sexuality is awakened by Swayze's charm & energy. Patrick Swayze is exceptional as the hunky dance instructor with a heart. And there's more to him than meets the eye. Despite his amazing talent & striking looks, Johnny thinks of himself as nobody. In one of the more touching scenes in the film, Baby criticizes him for having slept with female guests in the past. He explains, "You come from the streets, you come up here, there are so many women, they smell so good, and you think they must care about me or they wouldn't be doing it". She then understands -- she gets him.
Grey & Swayze are just exceptionally well cast. Johnny is drawn to Baby's optimism & brain. Baby is drawn to Johnny's sincerity. They stand-up for each other when facing adversity. Their sexual chemistry is OFF the charts. Their shared dance sequences mirror their emotions. There are many things going against them {age, experience, class differences, unsupportive friends/family}, but when they're together ... the rest of the world melts away. The rest of the cast is terrific, as well; with Jane Bruckner standing out as clueless & tone deaf Lisa. This film is also responsible for the immortal line "Nobody puts Baby in a corner". That line comes across as cheesy, but in the context of the moment, boy does it sing.
The story/film is hypnotic, and everything culminates magnificently in the final 10 minutes. Johnny asserts himself, takes Baby by the hand in front of a large crowd {including disapproving daddy}, and they explode in the liberating energy of one final dance set to the Oscar-winning song, "I've Had the Time of My Life". As I mentioned earlier, 'DD' may be a guilty pleasure for many {sometimes implausible plot, the fantastic 1960s & 80s soundtrack, rock-&-roll dancing} ... but it has merit, as well. The film is smarter than you think. There is nostalgia for growing up in a more innocent time. And it brings up themes of class warfare. Funny, touching & unabashedly romantic, 'Dirty Dancing' leaves me in a dream state every time I watch it.
Bored by the old-skewed guests/functions at said resort, that all changes one fateful night when Baby wanders into staff quarters to see everyone 'dirty dancing'. Baby is particularly struck by the handsome dance instructor-from-the-wrong-side-of-the-tracks, Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) -- she wants to be near him at all times. When Johnny's attractive dance partner, Penny (Cynthia Rhodes), finds herself pregnant from of the waiters, Robbie (Max Cantor), Baby volunteers to learn her steamy dance steps & take her place. Howwwever, Baby's father gets wind of her daughter's actions. And convinced that Johnny is a low-life, he condemns Baby to continue the romance. Tears & disappointment follow before a joyous climax rights the mood.
It is difficult to express just how much I love this thoroughly re-watchable classic. Whether it's the nostalgia of the 1960s milieu, the characters you root for, the flashy dance sequences, the incredible soundtrack {including "Hungry Eyes", Patrick Swayze crooning "She's Like the Wind"} ... 'Dirty Dancing' has the ability to cast quite the spell. Jennifer Grey is wonderful as the shy, idealistic Baby, whose sexuality is awakened by Swayze's charm & energy. Patrick Swayze is exceptional as the hunky dance instructor with a heart. And there's more to him than meets the eye. Despite his amazing talent & striking looks, Johnny thinks of himself as nobody. In one of the more touching scenes in the film, Baby criticizes him for having slept with female guests in the past. He explains, "You come from the streets, you come up here, there are so many women, they smell so good, and you think they must care about me or they wouldn't be doing it". She then understands -- she gets him.
Grey & Swayze are just exceptionally well cast. Johnny is drawn to Baby's optimism & brain. Baby is drawn to Johnny's sincerity. They stand-up for each other when facing adversity. Their sexual chemistry is OFF the charts. Their shared dance sequences mirror their emotions. There are many things going against them {age, experience, class differences, unsupportive friends/family}, but when they're together ... the rest of the world melts away. The rest of the cast is terrific, as well; with Jane Bruckner standing out as clueless & tone deaf Lisa. This film is also responsible for the immortal line "Nobody puts Baby in a corner". That line comes across as cheesy, but in the context of the moment, boy does it sing.
The story/film is hypnotic, and everything culminates magnificently in the final 10 minutes. Johnny asserts himself, takes Baby by the hand in front of a large crowd {including disapproving daddy}, and they explode in the liberating energy of one final dance set to the Oscar-winning song, "I've Had the Time of My Life". As I mentioned earlier, 'DD' may be a guilty pleasure for many {sometimes implausible plot, the fantastic 1960s & 80s soundtrack, rock-&-roll dancing} ... but it has merit, as well. The film is smarter than you think. There is nostalgia for growing up in a more innocent time. And it brings up themes of class warfare. Funny, touching & unabashedly romantic, 'Dirty Dancing' leaves me in a dream state every time I watch it.