Dirty Dancing

Starring: Jennifer Grey, Patrick Swayze, Jerry Orbach, Cynthia Rhodes, Jack Weston, Kelly Bishop, Wayne Knight
Directed by: Emile Ardolino
Rating: PG-13
Genre: Drama, Romance
1987

Times Seen:
Tim: 1

Summary: A rich girl (Jennifer Grey) falls in love with a dance instructor (Patrick Swayze) at a posh summer destination.

Review:

Tim: It's a little embarrassing how long it took me to get around to seeing Dirty Dancing. It's a fairly famous and beloved film, but it took me over 18 years of tracking movies to finally sit down and watch it. I can say that I see why so many people love the movie. It's not without its flaws, but it's still a memorable, entertaining film. I really did enjoy it quite a lot.

I really believe the best part of the movie is the character of Baby. Sure, her nickname is absolutely ridiculous and I cringe a little every time I say it. However, she's a fascinating, strong character. The movie starts out with her so naive and sheltered. Her daddy is rich and she could have been spoiled and self-centered. However, even from the opening scene, we learn that's not the case. She cares about other people, she's invested in making life for people better around the world. This focus on others comes into play when she meets various dancers, waiters, and hotel staff at a luxurious summer destination. She routinely takes it upon herself to help others, even those who are total strangers to her. Sure, some of her actions also serve her own interests, but she truly does seem to care about others. And, even more importantly, she backs that feeling up with action. What Baby goes through in this movie is astounding. She learns to dance in a matter of days to help someone she doesn't know and who was fairly rude to her. She faces her fears, confronts her father, and does a dozen things you wouldn't expect a young, inexperienced girl to do. I was amazed that this character routinely rose to whatever challenge was in front of her. That was the best part of the movie in my eyes.

It helps that Jennifer Grey gives a very strong performance to bring Baby to life. Grey is able to convey a sense of naivety, but also inner strength. It never feels unbelievable when Baby does the impressive things she does, and that's all due to Grey's performance. The dancing is obviously impressive, but Grey's performance as a whole really worked, too. Patrick Swayze was fairly strong as Johnny Castle (cool but absurd name). He had a few great moments of acting, although his performance as a whole felt a bit uneven. The guy is a hell of dancer, though, and that's what sticks with you. The impressive physicality of his role allows you to overlook some of his acting lapses. Swayze and Grey make a good pairing and it felt like there was a decent amount of chemistry between them. I also really enjoyed seeing Jerry Orbach here. His supporting role is strong and one of the most memorable aspects of the film. The rest of the cast felt fine, if a bit forgettable.

I like how this story tapped into that feeling of youth- the long summer days, the prospect of romance. The movie captures the in-between feeling of being exposed to the real problems of the world, but not yet feeling the full burden of them yourself. I thought the movie was believable in that sense.

The dance scenes are fairly iconic. The "Hungry Eyes" scene was exceptionally well done. The "Lover Boy" scene was incredible, too. Grey and Swayze are just mesmerizing in that sequence. I thought both of those were better than the final dance number, but as a whole, this movie offered up so many classic dance scenes. That's a big reason why this movie is so memorable and so effective.

I was impressed with Dirty Dancing. It's an entertaining, memorable movie that also features one incredible soundtrack. The film did win an Academy Award for Best Original Song- "(I've Had) The Time of My Life". This is a classic movie that holds up even decades later. Rating 1-10
Tim's Rating: 7.5



If You Enjoyed This Movie, We Recommend: Roadhouse, Ghost, Dance With Me