Dirty Dancing [DVD]

As with Grease (1978) and Footloose (1984) before it, Dirty Dancing was a cultural phenomenon that now plays more like camp. That very campiness, though, is part of its biggest charm. And if the dancing in the movie doesn't seem particularly "dirty" by today's standards--or 1987's--it does take place in an era (the early '60s) when it would have. Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey, daughter of ageless hoofer Joel Grey), vacationing in the Catskills with her family one summer, falls under the sway (as it were) of dance instructor Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze). Baby is a pampered pup, but Johnny is a man of the world. Baby's father Jake can't see the basic decency in greaser Johnny that she can. It should come as no surprise to find that Baby, who can be as immature as her name, learns more about love and life--and dancing--from free-spirited Johnny than traditionalist Jake. Dirty Dancing spawned two successful soundtracks, a short-lived TV series and a stage musical. It may be predictable, but Grey and Swayze have chemistry, charisma and all the right moves. It's a sometimes silly movie with occasionally mind-boggling dialogue--"No one puts Baby in a corner!"--that nonetheless carries an underlying message about tolerance and is filled with the kind of exuberant spirit that is hard for even the most cynical to resist. Not that they would ever admit it. --Kathy Fennessy

On the DVD: The information outlined on the package makes the special features appear very appealing: you too could "Learn to Dirty Dance". However, all the DVD actually teaches you is how to move from side to side with a slow "cha cha cha"--not exactly "dirty". Other additional features include the obligatory scene selection and a directors commentary from Eleanor Bergstein, offers interesting snippets of trivia, but overall is dull and stuttering. There's also the original theatrical trailer plus a very poor selection of filmographies for the cast and crew which (none of whom aside from Swayze ever amounted to much) which is difficult to read due to the italic scrawl they insist on using across the whole features section. That being said with a 1.78:1 ratio and Dolby Digital 5.1 this release is the closest you will get to reliving those 1980s school discos and back-seat cinema rows. --Nikki Disney

DVD Special Features:

Learn to Dirty Dance
Audio Commentary from Creator "Eleanor Bergstein"
Filmographies
Closed Captioned English Subtitles
Trailer

It's summer, 1963. Frances, seventeen and innocent, is on holiday with her parents in the Catskills. She meets Johnny--the hotel dance instructor--and is mesmerised by him and his dance style. She soon becomes Johnny's prize pupil, in dance and in love.

It's the summer of 1963 and 17 year old Frances "Baby" Houseman (Jennifer Grey) is about to learn some major lessons in life as well as a thing or two about dancing.

On holiday in America's Catskill Mountains with her older sister and parents, "Baby" shows little interest in the resort activities, and instead discovers her own entertainment when she stumbles upon the staff's quarters where an all-night dance party is in full swing. Mesmerised by the raunchy dance moves and the pounding rhythms, "Baby" can't wait to be part of the scene, especially when she catches sight of sexy, heart-throb Johnny Castle (Patrick Swayze) the resort dance instructor. "Baby's" life is about to change forever as she is thrown in the deep end as Johnny's leading lady both on-stage and off with breat-taking consequences.