Now I really did have the time of my life!!! (Dirty Dancing (DVD))

Member Name: ross1979

Product:	Dirty Dancing (DVD)
Date:	31/07/01 (233 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Music, Feel-Good, Memories

Disadvantages: Very 80s - ish

Dirty Dancing was one of those movies which was, if you were growing up in the 80s, unforgettable.

The plot is nothing to write home about, but it just has that nostalgic and magical quality which, in my opinion, is virtually unrivalled. The music and the dancing is pretty good too!

Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Gray are the two main stars and there is undeniable chemistry between the two. It is a classic on-off love story and, while neither are the best actors in the world, they pull it off with style. Jennifer Grey arguably gives the performance of her life also.

The setting is the summer of 1963 at a Jewish family resort. Francis "Baby" Houseman (Grey) is a sweet, naive young girl who thinks she can change the world for the better. When she sneaks into a staff party, she begins to see that everything is not as innocent as it seems. She meets Johnny Castle (Swayze) there. His ex Penny (Cynthia Rhodes) is preggers and wants a then-illegal abortion.

Baby is asked to step in for her and dance with Johnny in a contest. But her father Jake (Jerry Orbach) finds out about Johnny and the abortion, he forbids her from seeing him. But she doesnt listen and (you guessed it) she falls in love with him.

There are some very memorable and charming scenes while she learns to dance from Johnny. Such as the scene where they balance on the log over the river, or when he teaches her 'the lift' in the water. These are accompanied by an excellent variety of songs. The soundtrack is still popular today! My personal favourite is 'Hungry Eyes' by Eric Carmen (I think!) which is a great pop song that fits nicely into the setting and the era.

There are some amusing moments in the film and the song they all sing on the stage at the leaving party is to die for - 'Join in hands and hearts and voices......' So cheesy you just have to chuckle. There is also a number of rom
antic scenes and one 'sex' scene which really demonstrates the chemistry between Grey and Swayze.

If you are looking for the ultimate feel good romantic film, with a soundtrack which is simply brilliant, watch this film. Then again, you probably have already, so I'll change that to watch this film......AGAIN!!!

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