Dirty Dancing (1987)

Dirty Dancing (1987)

“Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”

Laura’s Rating: 4/5 Stars

Plot: Baby is spending the summer at a resort in the Catskills with her parents. She’s listless and bored until she discovers the staff parties and the resort's dance instructor, Johnny. He enlists her to sub in as his partner for a dance gig and they begin practicing. The sexual tension between the pair mounts, but so does the possibility of romance.

Opinion: Okay, yes, I had never seen Dirty Dancing before. I knew the premise and the references, but I figured it was time for me to actually watch the movie.

My initial impressions: Jerry Orbach is the dad?! Kelly Bishop is the mom?! Wayne Knight is in it?? The cast was star-studded with some of my faves from other shows and movies. 

I mean obviously, there’s a killer soundtrack that accompanies the dancing. I found myself grooving along in my seat. I also appreciated the wardrobe choices. Baby is always dressed in light colors to show her innocence, with Swayze often in all black to project his bad boy image. Speaking of which: Patrick Swayze’s character is such a tool, but I get the appeal. You can see Baby’s transition from conservative and naive to more comfortable and confident in herself. I like the log scene the best, where you see both main characters let their guard down a bit and have fun.

While the movie is somewhat lighthearted, there’s some serious issues dealt with by the characters and also a juxtaposition of the working class staff and the privileged guests at the resort, making the conflicts deeper than just romance and rebellion. Overall, a solid 80s romance that I quite enjoyed.