On D List of Movie Reviews
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Dirty Dancing (1987)
Rate:
9
Viewed:
6/04, 5/06, 10/19, 11/19, 7/24
5/06:
Dirty Dancing is a classic picture.
Jennifer Grey and Patrick Swayze are fantastic together. They aren't the problem. It's impossible to think of the movie without
them. The cast is perfect as well. What works is the blend of late 50's/early 60's feel and 80's look. Also, there are
two contrasting sides, prudish and cool, that merge to make for a clash.
On the other hand, I hate how the famous line "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" is hastily delivered, failing to make for a
bona fide classic movie moment. Rather, it goes this: ENTER Johnny, nobodyputsbabyinacorner, EXIT Johnny with Baby...just like
that.
All in all, Dirty Dancing is timeless.
10/19:
A huge favorite among females, Dirty Dancing is the last great dance picture.
The editing is interesting because it's all about the dancing but is not high on character development. Rather, it's Patrick
Swayze showing Jennifer Grey the ropes, and they're excellent together. Hence, Dirty Dancing is a timeless movie with
memorable moments, fantastic music, and a killer intro, notwithstanding the strange mix of 50's/60's and 80's looks.
If anyone deserved an Oscar win, it's Jennifer Grey. She's perfect. What's amazing about her performance is
how well she plays the awkwardness part without being corny. That's why Molly Ringwald became a failed actress after
appearing in three overrated teen films. There's no question that Dirty Dancing made Patrick Swayze an overnight
heartthrob, and he went on to have three more signature films: Road House,
Ghost, and Point Break.
Who cares if his acting isn't awesome? It's all about the dancing, stupid.
The line "Nobody puts Baby in a corner" is famous, but I hate Patrick Swayze's delivery. It's too fast, hence the lack of
effect. He should've said it slower and let the moment last before taking Baby away. The following line said by Jennifer
Grey is more of a clincher: "I'm scared of walking out of this room and never feeling the rest of my whole life the way I feel
when I'm with you."
Prior to being cast, Jennifer Grey didn't want to work with Patrick Swayze again after Red Dawn.
He had to persuade her before she finally relented. The scene when Patrick Swayze slowly moved his hand down Jennifer Grey
underarm, her reaction was for real, and he was peeved by it considering they did over twenty-five takes due to her uncontrollable
laughing.
The log scene is all Patrick Swayze which sent him to the hospital after injuring his left knee many times to have it drained
because of the swelling, but you can't see Jennifer Grey because she had a stand-in to do it for her. When they were doing the most
fantastic scene ever in the practice room before Lonny Price (Neil Kellerman) walked on them, it was all ad-libbed.
Vestron Pictures was a small company back then that eventually went bankrupt. Having produced mostly crappy films,
Dirty Dancing was its very first film. When the movie was initially printed and the executives saw it for the
first time, they didn't like it, preferring to "burn the negative and collect the insurance." Changing their minds, they
gave it a go, predicting a run of just one weekend in theatres. Well, Dirty Dancing immediately took off, and
the rest was history as it became the first ever to sell one million copies on videotape.
All in all, Dirty Dancing is unique.
11/19:
Dirty Dancing is still a timeless motion picture.
All in all, Jennifer Grey should've been awarded the Oscar for Best Actress.
7/24:
Dirty Dancing will always stand the test of time.