Dirty Dancing

To kick off the summer, I suggested to Matt that we review each other’s summertime favorites. At the top of Matt’s list was Dirty Dancing. Dirty Dancing is a guilty pleasure for me. I saw it TEN times in the theater when it first came out. It’s probably the only “chick flick” I’ve ever really loved.

There are probably only two people in the world who haven’t seen this movie, but I’ll outline the basics. The movie begins with a doctor and his family arriving at a mountain resort for a much needed summer vacation. Jennifer Grey (with her original nose) plays Baby, the conscientious, yet idealistic daughter. She is instantly drawn the charms of a young, buff dance instructor, Johnny (Patrick Swayze in his prime). While exploring the grounds, she stumbles upon a staff party filled with erotically gyrating young staffers. She is drawn into the dance and though she has no experience, she does show some raw talent.

Bored with the bourgeois antics of the older campers, Baby stalks the staff and discovers Johnny’s dance partner is pregnant and is looking to terminate. Unfortunately, the procedure can only be completed on the night she and Johnny were to perform at a local hotel. Baby convinces Johnny to allow her to fill in. While he teaches her to dance they fall in love. Johnny counterbalances Baby’s sheltered naiveté with his street smarts, thus making them an endearing couple.

When Baby’s father finds out about the terminated pregnancy he believes Johnny is responsible and forbids Baby to see him again; she still sees him on the sly. When Johnny is accused of stealing, Baby confesses to being with him, much to her father’s dismay. The once close bond between Baby her father is crumbling, but her love for Johnny and her zeal to do what is right drive her to become an adult her father never knew.

In the end, Johnny throws caution to the wind and whirls Baby onto the dance floor at the season ending show. Her father can’t help but see her in a new light.

Dirty Dancing earns a solid 4-star rating. The writing is far from inspired, but it touches on several universal themes (love, class differences, youth in revolt). The acting is good, but not inspired, however, the music is inspired and the story keeps you riveted to the very end. No one can go wrong if they grab a pint of Ben and Jerry’s and curl up on the couch with Dirty Dancing.

Michelle D. Kieffaber