Monday, April 7, 2014

Movie Review: "Dirty Dancing" (1987)

Image Source
Movie"Dirty Dancing"
Director: Emile Ardolino
Year: 1987
Rating: PG-13
Running Time: 1 hour, 40 minutes

"Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey), her sister Lisa Houseman (Jane Brucker), and their parents, Dr. Jake Houseman (Jerry Orbach) and Marjorie Houseman (Kelly Bishop) are about to spend the summer at a high-end camping resort. At first, it seems like it will be a typical family getaway with outdoor fun and structured group activities. Baby is still the apple of her father's eye, and to him she can do no wrong. Things start to change when she begins seeing the camp's dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Johnny tries to warn Baby to stay away at first, but when a medical issue keeps his dance partner from working a job at a neighboring hotel, Baby offers to replace her. As he teachers her to dance, they begin a relationship and start to fall in love. Johnny has his doubts that they can work because they come from two different worlds and are of two separate classes. Baby has her own concerns about how her father will feel and fears disappointing him. They want to find a way to make their love work, but everything else seems to be holding them apart.
Between the famous songs "She's Like the Wind" and "Time of My Life," spawned by this film, and the ever-uttered "nobody puts Baby in the corner," "Dirty Dancing" is a quintessential chick flick. Come on, how many times have you though of the end of this movie while hearing "Time of My Life"?? It's almost impossible not to! This is the story of one girls coming-of-age and is wrought with family drama, class warfare, teenage rebellion, hotties, and abortions, and it's also one of those movies that, as an adult, makes you question the decision of your parents to let you watch movies like this! Those are the best! It's got everything!

Though the plot can get a little disjointed at times, this movie is one I look forward to watching every time I get that hankering. It's always sort of fun to remember Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey's dislike of one another in real life and then watch it get completely 180'ed on screen; I think it made them work even harder to pull off their romance in the movie because Swayze disliked Grey. Baby is one of those characters that tries so hard to do the right time but wants to break out of her shell and be selfish for once. Johnny Castle...that name oozes sex! Though this movie is called "Dirty Dancing," the dancing featured is dirty and seductive enough to not make viewers feel sleazy, know what we mean? The choreography is great! The lines might seem cheesy in 2014 but I'm sure made an impact then. In fact, for being set in the 1960's, this is a very 80's movie.

All in all, one of my favorites, and BigJ likes it, too! Oh, and rest in peace, Swayze. :(

My Rating: 10/10
BigJ's Rating: 8/10
IMDB's Rating: 6.8/10
Rotten Tomatoes Rating: 72%
Do we recommend this movie: BigJ says yes, I say ABSOLUTELY YES!!

4 comments:

  1. I'm so old, I saw this in the theater when it first came out. lol

    My sister used to be absolutely obsessed with this movie. She had the thing memorized, every line, every detail, and watched it every chance she got.

    And it's funny because that "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" line didn't become a 'thing' until later. Neither of us remember it being an odd point at the time.

    I didn't know they didn't like each other in real life?!

    ~Deb

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, there was a dispute with them on the set of "Red Dawn," they just didn't get along. The scene in "Dirty Dancing" where Baby keeps laughing because Johnny is tickling her, when Swayze rolls her eyes? Yeah, he was really rolling his eyes at her because she was being annoying! LOL! I just love that they didn't get along and still made such a good movie. :)

      Delete
  2. I love this movie. I think I need to watch it again!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I love it, too! I'd love to know if you still love it as much when you watch it again! :)

      Delete